Sectior   .  ^M  O^O 


Th&  blue-  tine  indicates  ihe> Journey  o^the*  Jsraebbbes . 


THE   LIFE   OF   CHRIST 


COURSE  OF  LECTURES  COMBINING  THE 
PRINCIPAL  EVENTS  IN  THE  LIFE  OF 
OUR     LORD      WITH     THE     CATECHISM 


BY 


S 


MARY  VIRGINIA  MERRICK 


NOV  17  1 


With  a  Foreword  by 
His  Eminence  James  Cardinal  Gibbons,  D.D. 


"  They  that  instruct  many  to  justice  shall  shine  as  stars  for 
all  eternity."— Daniel  XII,  j. 


ST.  LOUIS,  MO.,    1909 

Published  by  B.  Herder 

17  South  Broadway 


FREIBURG    (BADEN) 

B.   HERDER 


LONDON  AND  EDINBURGH 

SANDS  &  CO. 


NIHIL  OBSTAT. 


Bridgeton,  Mo.,  June  23rd,  1909. 

JOSEPHUS   WENTKER, 

Censor  Librorum  dep 


IMPRIMATUR. 


St.  Louis,  Mo.,  June  23rd,  1909. 
►J* Joannes  J.  Glennon, 

Archiepiscopus 
St.  Ludovici. 


Copyright,  1908,  by  Mary  Virginia  Merrick. 


— BECKTOLD— 

PRINTING  AND  BOOK  MFG.  CO. 
ST.  LOUIS,  MO. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS 


PAGE 

Preface vii 


FIRST  SERIES. 

Infancy  and  Childhood  of  Jesus  to  the  First  Year  of 
His   Public  Life. 

Lecture  i. 
Creation  of  the  world,  of  angels,  of  man — Fall  of  angels 
and  man I 

Lecture  2. 
Original     sin — Promise     of     redemption — Baptism — Im- 
maculate Conception 3 

Lecture  3. 
Mission  of  Angels — Birth  of  John  Baptist  foretold     .     .      5 

Lecture  4. 
Annunciation — Visitation — Birth  of  John  Baptist  ...      7 

Lecture  5. 
Nativity  of   Christ — Adoration  of  the   Shepherds — Doc- 
trine of  the  Incarnation 8 

Lecture  6. 
Circumcision  and  Presentation  of  Christ — Worship  of  the 
Magi — Second  Commandment 10 

Lecture  7. 
Flight  into  Egypt — Massacre  of  the  Innocents — Return  to 
Nazareth 11 

Lecture  8. 
Finding  of  the  Child  in  the  Temple— Life  in  Nazareth- 
Fourth  Commandment — Joyful  Mysteries    ....     13 

iii 


iv  CONTENTS 

SECOND  SERIES. 
First  Year  of  the  Public  Life  of  Christ. 

Lecture  9.  PAGE 

Preaching  of  John  Baptist — Baptism  of  Christ — Doctrine 
of  the  Trinity    ....."........     15 

Lecture  10. 

Fast  and  temptation  in  the  desert — Ministration  of  Angels 
— First  Disciples — Doctrine  of  Sin 17 

Lecture  ii. 

First  Miracle — Money  changers  expelled  from  Temple — 
Nicodemus — Sacrament  of  Matrimony 18 

Lecture  12. 

Jesus  speaks  to  the  Samaritan  woman  at  the  well — Heal- 
ing of  the  son  of  the  Ruler — Jesus  expelled  from  the 
synagogue — Sacrament  of  Penance 20 

Second  Year  of  the  Public  Life  of  Christ. 

Lecture  13. 

Call  of  the  Disciples — Jesus  preaches  from  boat — Miracu- 
lous draught  of  fishes — Doctrine  of  Grace  ....     22 

Lecture  14. 

Apostles  chosen  and  sent  on  mission— Paralytic  cured  at 
Pool  of  Bethesda — Definition  of  Church     ....     23 

Lecture  15. 

Sermon  on  the  Mount — The  Our  Father— Doctrine  of 
Prayer .     25 


Third  Year  of  the   Public  Life  of   Christ. 

Lecture  16. 

Multiplication  of  the  loaves  and  fishes — Jesus  and  Peter 

walk  on  the  waters — Sacrament  of  the  Holy  Eucharist    26 

Lecture  17. 
Miracles  of   Christ— Doctrine  of   Faith 28 


CONTENTS  V 

Lecture  18.  page 

Parables    of    Christ — Eighth    Commandment    ....     29 

Lecture  19. 

Beheading  of  John  Baptist — Widow's  mite — Mary  Magda- 
len is  absolved — Christ  blesses  little  children — Sacra- 
ment of  Penance 


3i 


Lecture  20. 


Transfiguration — Raising    of    Lazarus — Peter    appointed 
Chief  of  the  Apostles  and  head  of  the  Church   .     .     32 

Lecture  21. 

The  rich  young  man — Zacheus — Seventh  and  tenth  Com- 
mandments     34 


THIRD  SERIES. 
Last  Days  of  Christ. 

Lecture  22. 

Jesus  weeps  over  Jerusalem — Entry  into  Jerusalem — Holy 

Communion 37 

Lecture  23. 
The  Last  Supper — Institution  of  Holy  Eucharist  ...     30 

Lecture  24. 

Last  Supper  continued — Prayer  of  Chnst  for  His  Disci- 
ples— Mass 41 

Lecture  25. 
Agony  in  the  Garden  and  Betrayal — Doctrine  of  Sin     .     42 

Lecture  26. 

Trial  and  Condemnation  of  Christ — Denial  of  Peter — 
His  repentance — Jesus  is  scourged  and  crowned  with 
thorns — Doctrine  of  contrition  and  absolution     .     .     44 

Lecture  27. 

Way  of  the  Cross— Doctrine  of  Redemption  and  Satis- 
faction  46 


vi  CONTENTS 

Lecture  28.  PAGE 

Crucifixion — Repentance  of  Good  Thief — Sacrifice  of  the 

Mass — Third  Commandment 48 

Lecture  29. 

Seven  Last  Words — Death  and  Burial  of  Christ — Extreme 
Unction — Sorrowful  Mysteries  of  the  Rosary — Fifth 
Commandment 50 

Lecture  30. 

Descent  of  Christ  into  Limbo — His  Resurrection — First 
Commandment — Creed 53 

Lecture  31. 

Story  of  the  resurrection  continued — Christ  appears  to 
Mary  Magdalen  and  His  Disciples — Heaven — Purga- 
tory— Hell — The  Virtue  of  Hope — Sixth  and  Ninth 
Commandments 56 

Lecture  32. 

The  incredulity  of  Thomas — Christ  appears  on  the  road 
to  Emmaus — Peter  appointed  head  of  Church — Holy 
Orders — Virtue  of  Faith — The  Church 58 

Lecture  33. 

Ascension— Descent  of  the  Holy  Ghost— Confirmation — 
Virtue  of  Charity — Joyful   Mysteries  of  the   Rosary    61 


PREFACE 

The  first  aim  of  the  writer  in  preparing  the  follow- 
ing lectures  has  been  to  assist  the  teacher  in  bringing 
our  Lord  vividly  before  the  minds  of  children  as  a 
living  personality,  thereby  developing  in  their  hearts 
willing  love  for  Him.  In  proportion  as  He  becomes  a 
vivid  reality  to  their  young  minds,  and  they  come  to 
know  Him  intimately  and  feel  His  tender  love  for 
them,  will  their  love  for  Him  be  kindled  and  fanned. 
While  the  lectures  are  intended  to  offer  a  fairly  com- 
prehensive summary  of  the  Gospel  narrative,  those  in- 
cidents, scenes  and  sayings  which  have  been  found  to 
appeal  most  strongly  to  the  child's  imagination,  and 
thus  to  his  intelligence  and  better  impulses,  have  been 
given  special  prominence.  Some  freedom  has  neces- 
sarily been  used  in  grouping  events  and  parables,  but, 
when  possible,  chronological  order  is  followed. 

The  second  aim  has  been  to  emphasize  that  the  obli- 
gatory force  of  the  home  virtues,  and  the  significance 
of  the  practices  of  religion,  depend  on  the  doctrinal 
truths  of  faith.  That  the  children  may  be  urged  to 
show  forth  in  their  daily  lives  the  faith  implanted  in 
them,  will  their  love  for  Him  be  fanned  and  kindled, 
virtues  is  proposed  at  the  end  of  each  lecture.  In  se- 
lecting each  "Practice"  from  so  many  possible  ones, 
account  has  been  taken  of  its  connection  with  the  text 
of  the  lesson,  and  its  relative  importance  to  the  child. 

vii 


viii  PREFACE 

Lastly  it  is  thought  that  combining  the  Catechism 
with  the  life  of  Christ  will  help  in  giving  spirit  and 
force  to  the  verbal  teaching  of  the  former,  and  go  far 
towards  making  the  necessarily,  tersely  stated  doctrines 
vital  truths.  In  the  life  of  Christ,  too,  is  found  an 
inexhaustible  wealth  of  illustrations  of  a  nature  to 
make  catechetical  instruction  clear  and  interesting. 
The  questions  and  answers  are  from  the  Baltimore 
Council  Catechism  exclusively. 

The  present  course  is  offered  in  the  hope  that  it  may 
prove  suggestive.  Wide  scope  in  its  treatment  is  in- 
tentionally left  to  the  individual  teachers,  and  its  prac- 
tical value  will,  of  course,  depend  largely  on  their 
power  to  quicken  the  dead  letter  into  life.  It  is  the 
writer's  prayer  that  "knowing  His  testimonies,  their 
speech  may  distil  as  the  dew"  on  the  young  hearts 
unfolded  in  the  morning  of  life  to  receive  refreshment. 


METHOD  OF  TEACHING  THIS  COURSE 

To  render  the  lessons  more  interesting  to  the  chil- 
dren, and  bring  the  various  incidents  more  vividly  be- 
fore their  minds,  the  writer  suggests  that  the  use  of 
mural  pictures  illustrating  the  Life  of  Christ,  and  a 
mural  map  of  the  Holy  Land,  would  be  found  very 
useful. 

It  would  also  be  advisable  to  use  in  class  and  give 
the  children  penny  pictures  representing  the  events 
narrated,  and  thus  impress  upon  their  minds  the  lesson 
learned  and  the  truths  contained  therein.  The  aim 
designated  in  each  lecture  should  be  developed  by  the 
teacher  as  the  key-note  of  the  lesson. 

The  Course  can  be  extended  over  a  period  of  two 
or  three  scholastic  years  by  dividing  the  lectures. 
This  has  been  found  necessary  for  the  younger  chil- 
dren. 

In  addition  to  the  New  Testament,  the  following 
books  would  be  found  useful  reading  in  connection 
with  this  Course : 

The  Life  of  Christ. — Abbe  E.  Le  Camus. 
The  Story  of  the  Gospels. — H.  J.  Coleridge,  S.  J. 
Bible  Studies. — B.  S.  Conaty. 
Jesus  Christ— R.  P.  Didon,  O.  P. 
The  Christ  the  Son  of  God. — Abbe  Constant  Fouard. 
Jesus  of  Nazareth. — Mother  Mary  Loyola. 
Life  of  Jesus  Christ. — A.  J.  Maas,  S.  J. 
Life  of  Christ  for  Children. — Madame  de  Segur. 
ix 


FOREWORD 

Our  Lord,  Jesus  Christ,  has  said  to  us :  "  Learn  of 
Me  because  I  am  meek  and  humble  of  heart."  He  has 
repeated  to  us  time  and  again :  "  Follow  Me ;  As  I 
have  done  so  do  ye  also."  His  life,  as  a  man  upon 
earth,  is  the  greatest  incentive  to  virtue  and  good  liv- 
ing that  we  can  put  before  the  child's  mind.  To  the 
child  it  means  that  God  has  come  as  man  to  tell  us 
that  He  loves  us  with  infinite  love ;  that  He  has  shown 
us  how  to  live  and  that  in  all  our  own  efforts  and  de- 
sires Christ  will  be  with  us  to  help  and  to  guide.  If 
we  believe  in  telling  children  the  story  of  great  heroes 
and  leaders,  how  much  more  ought  we  to  try  to  bring 
home  to  them  in  their  very  earliest  years,  and  after- 
wards the  story  of  the  life  of  Jesus  Christ  and  to  show 
that  His  life  is  The  Life  which  all  should  imitate.  The 
truths  and  the  commandments  learned  from  the  cate- 
chism will  be  illumined  in  a  wonderfully  efficacious 
way  by  the  story  of  that  Life  and  what  would  prob- 
ably be  only  dry  bones,  will  then  take  on  the  inspiring 
glory  of  a  living  Example.  It  will  not  only  lead  the 
way  but  will  give  us  the  power  to  follow.  Personal 
devotion,  enthusiasm,  real  Christian  service  in  the 
common  duties  of  life  will  take  root;  grow  and  blos- 
som in  the  child's  mind  through  this  illustration  of  the 
Christian  truths  and  commandments  by  the  actual  life 
of  Christ.  The  author  of  the  present  work  has  pre- 
sented very  happily  and  very  practically  just  such  an 


FOREWARD 

illustration.  To  the  teacher  the  present  work  offers  a 
wide  field  of  suggestion  and  of  personal  endeavor  with 
the  pupil ;  and  to  the  child,  the  most  efficacious  method 
of  Christian  Education  —  the  picture  of  a  Living  Ex- 
ample that  is  all  powerful  in  its  attractiveness;  that 
will  draw  the  heart  and  arouse  the  soul  and  make  the 
child  a  personal,  faithful  follower  of  Jesus  Christ  and 
His  Holy  Church. 

J.  Card.  Gibbons. 


COURSE   IN 
THE   LIFE  OF   CHRIST 

FIRST  SERIES. 

Infancy  and  Childhood  of  Jesus  to  the  First  Year  of 
His  Public  Life. 

LECTURE  1 

AIM:     Show  the  Power  and  Goodness  of  God  in 
the  Creation,  the  Evil  of  Sin,  God's  Justice. 

1.  The  creation  and  fall  of  the  angels. 

2.  The  creation  of  the  world  and  of  the  first  man 

and  woman. 
.  3.     The  Terrestrial  Paradise. 

4.  The  trial  and  fall  of  Adam  and  Eve. 

5.  The  expulsion  of  our  first  parents  from  Para- 

dise. 

QUESTIONS  IN  CATECHISM: 

Q.  Who  made  the  world ? 
A.  God  made  the  world. 
Q.   Who  is  God? 

A.  God  is  the  Creator  of  heaven  and  earth,  and  of 
all  things. 

I 


2  THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

Q.  What  is  God? 

A.  God  is  a  spirit  infinitely  perfect. 

Q.  Had  God  a  beginning? 

A.  God  had  no  beginning;  He  always  was  and  He 
always  will  be. 

Q.  Can  God  do  all  things? 

A.  God  can  do  all  things,  and  nothing  is  hard  or  im- 
possible to  Him. 

Q.  What  is  man? 

A.  Man  is  a  creature  composed  of  body  and  soul, 
and  made  to  the  image  and  likeness  of  God. 

Q.  Who  w ere  the  first  man  and,  woman? 

A.  The  first  man  and  woman  were  Adam  and  Eve. 

Q.  Were  Adam  and  Eve  innocent  and  holy  zvhen 
they  came  from  the  hand  of  God? 

A.  Adam  and  Eve  were  innocent  and  holy  when 
they  came  from  the  hand  of  God. 

Q.  Did  Adam  and  Eve  remain  faithful  to  God? 

A.  Adam  and  Eve  did  not  remain  faithful  to  God ; 
but  broke  His  command  by  eating  the  forbidden  fruit. 

Q.  What  befell  Adam  and  Eve  on  account  of  their 
sin? 

A.  Adam  and  Eve  on  account  of  their  sin  lost  inno- 
cence and  holiness,  and  were  doomed  to  misery  and 
death. 

PRACTICE:     Obedience  to  the  law  of  God  and  to 
our  parents,  God's  representatives. 


Reference:  Lecture  i, 
Genesis :  Chaps,  r  and  2. 


THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 


LECTURE  2 


AIM:     Show  the  Need  of  and  Preparation  for  a 
Redeemer,  a  Saviour, 
i.     Original  sin  is  transmitted  to  us  from  our  first 
parents. 

2.  The  promise  of  a  Redeemer  to  Adam  and  Eve. 

3.  This  promise  transmitted  by  them  and  their 

descendants,  the  Jews,  from  generation  to 
generation. 

4.  The  longing  of  the  Jews,  the  chosen  people  of 

God,  for  a  Redeemer  for  thousands  of 
years. 

5.  Christ,  as  foretold  to  them  by  the  prophets, 

was  to  be  born  of  their  race  and  of  the 
family  of  David. 

6.  God's  special  protection  over  this  race  from 

whom  the  Saviour  was  to  be  born.  Exam- 
ples :  Abraham  and  Isaac.  The  coming  out 
of  Egypt. 

7.  Mary,   of   the   family   of   David,   a   maid   of 

Nazareth,  preserved  free  from  the  guilt  of 
original  sin,  chosen  to  be  the  Mother  of 
Christ. 

QUESTIONS  IN  CATECHISM: 

Q.  What  evil  befell  us  through  the  disobedience  of 
our  first  parents? 

A.  Through  the  disobedience  of  our  first  parents 
we  all  inherit  their  sin  and  punishment,  as  we  should 
have  shared  in  their  happiness  if  they  had  remained 
faithful. 


4  THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

Q.  What  is  the  sin  called  which  we  inherit  from  our 
first  parents? 

A.  The  sin  which  we  inherit  from  our  first  parents 
is  called  original  sin. 

Q.   What  is  Baptism? 

A.  Baptism  is  a  Sacrament  which  cleanses  us  from 
original  sin,  makes  us  Christians,  children  of  God,  and 
heirs  of  heaven. 

Q.  Is  Baptism  necessary  to  salvation? 

A.  Baptism  is  necessary  to  salvation,  because  with- 
out it  we  cannot  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven. 

Q.  Who  can  administer  Baptism? 

A.  The  priest  is  the  ordinary  minister  of  baptism ; 
but  in  case  of  necessity  any  one  who  has  the  use  of 
reason  may  baptize. 

Q.  Hoiv  is  Baptism  given? 

A.  Whoever  baptizes  should  pour  water  on  the  head 
of  the  person 'to  be  baptized,  and  say,  while  pouring 
the  water :  /  baptise  thee  in  the  name  of  the  Father, 
and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 

Q.   Was  any  one  ever  preserved  from  original  sin? 

A.  The  Blessed  Virgin  Mary,  through  the  merits  of 
her  Divine  Son,  was  preserved  free  from  the  guilt  of 
original  sin,  and  this  privilege  is  called  her  Immaculate 
Conception. 

Q.  Did  God  abandon  man  after  he  fell  into  sin? 

A.  God  did  not  abandon  man  after  he  fell  into  sin, 
but  promised  him  a  Redeemer,  who  was  to  satisfy  for 
man's  sin  and  reopen  to  him  the  gates  of  heaven. 

Q.   Who  is  the  Redeemer? 

A.  Our  Blessed  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ  is 
the  Redeemer  of  mankind. 


THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST  5 

PRACTICE:     Devotion  to  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary. 
Imitation  of  her  purity. 


Reference:  Lecture  2. 
Genesis :  Chap.  2,  Point  2. 
Isaias:  Chap.  7,  v.  14. 


LECTURE  3 


AIM:  Show  the  Greatness  of  the  Incarnation; 
Angels  Sent  as  Messengers  to  Announce  It. 
John  Heralds  It. 

1.  Espousals  of  the  B.  V.  Mary  to  St.  Joseph. 

2.  St.  Joseph,  a  carpenter,  a  descendant  of  David. 

3.  Life  of  humble  toil  in  Nazareth. 

4.  Life  of  Zachary  and  Elizabeth  in  Hebron. 

5.  The  angel's  visit  to  Zachary  in  the  Temple. 

Birth  of  St.  John  foretold. 

6.  Zachary's  incredulity  and  consequent  dumb- 

ness. 

QUESTIONS  IN  CATECHISM: 

Q.  Which  are  the  chief  creatures  of  God? 

A.  The  chief  creatures  of  God  are  men  and  angels. 

Q.  What  are  angels? 

A.  Angels  are  bodiless  spirits  created  to  adore  and 
enjoy  God  in  heaven. 

Q.  Were  the  angels  created  for  any  other  purpose? 

A.  The  angels  were  also  created  to  assist  before  the 


6  THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

throne  of  God  and  to  minister  unto  Him;  they  have 
often  been  sent  as  messengers  from  God  to  man;  and 
are  also  appointed  our  guardians. 

Q.  Were  the  angels,  as  God  created  them,  good  and 
happy ? 

A.  The  angels,  as  God  created  them,  were  good  and 
happy. 

Q.  Did  all  the  angels  remain  good  and  happy? 

A.  All  the  angels  did  not  remain  good  and  happy; 
many  of  them  sinned  and  were  cast  into  hell,  and  these 
are  called  devils  or  bad  angels. 

PRACTICE:     Devotion  to  the  Angels,  especially  our 
Guardian  Angels. 


TEACH 


Angel  of  God,  my  guardian  dear, 

To  whom  His  love  commits  me  here, 

Ever  this  day  be  at  my  side. 

To  light  and  guard,  to  rule  and  guide. 


Reference:  Lecture  3. 
St.  Luke:  Chap,  i,  v.  5-25,  Points  6  and  7. 
Point  out  on  map  Judea,   Hebron,  Jerusalem  and 
Nazareth. 


THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 


LECTURE  4 


AIM :     Show  the  Purity  of  the  B.  V.  Mary  and  Her 
Humility  which  Fitted  Her  for  Her  Mission. 

i.     The  Annunciation    (quote  Scripture)    Feast, 
March  25. 

2.  The  Visitation  of  the  B.  V.  M.  to  St.  Eliza- 

beth.    Feast  July  2. 

3.  The  Magnificat  (quote  Scripture). 

4.  The  return  of  the  B.  V.  Mary  to  her  home. 

5.  The  birth  of  St.  John  the  Baptist. 

6.  Zachary    receives    his    speech    and    declares 

John's  name. 

TEACH:     The  Angelus. 

The  angel  of  the  Lord  declared  unto  Mary ;  and  she 
conceived  of  the  Holy  Ghost.     Hail  Mary,  etc. 

Behold  the  handmaid  of  the  Lord.  Be  it  done  unto 
me  according  to  thy  word.     Hail  Mary,  etc. 

And  the  Word  was  made  flesh,  and  dwelt  among  us. 
Hail  Mary,  etc. 

Pray  for  us,  holy  mother  of  God. 

That  we  may  be  made  worthy  of  the  promises  of 
Christ. 

Let  us  Pray. 

Pour  forth,  we  beseech  Thee,  O  Lord,  Thy  grace 
into  our  hearts,  that  we,  to  whom  the  Incarnation  of 
Christ,  Thy  Son,  was  made  known  by  the  message  of 
an  angel,  may  by  His  passion  and  cross  be  brought  to 
the  glory  of  the  resurrection ;  through  the  same  Christ 
our  Lord.     Amen. 


8  THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

PRACTICE :  Kindness  in  thought  and  in  speech  and 
act  in  imitation  of  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary  in 
her  visit  to  Elizabeth. 


Reference:  Lecture  4. 
Luke:  Chap.  I,  v.  26-80. 
Point  out  on  map  Judea,  Galilee  and  Nazareth. 


LECTURE  5 


AIM:     Show  how   Christ  is  True   God   and  True 
Man.     God's  Love  Shown  in  the  Incarnation. 

1.  Mary  and  Joseph  go  up  to  Bethlehem  to  be  en- 

rolled. 

2.  They   find   "no  room"   in  the  inn,  and   seek 

refuge  in  a  stable. 

3.  The  Nativity  of  Christ  Jesus.     Feast  Decem- 

ber 25th. 

4.  The  announcement  to  the  shepherds. 

5.  The  Gloria  in  Excelsis.     Same  words  used  in 

the  Mass. 

6.  The  Adoration  of  the  shepherds. 

TEACH:     The  Angelus.     (See  Lesson  4.) 

QUESTIONS  IN  CATECHISM: 

Q.  What  do  you  believe  of  Jesus  Christ? 

A.  I  believe  that  Jesus  Christ  is  the  Son  of  God,  the 
second  Person  of  the  Blessed  Trinity,  true  God  and 
true  man. 


THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST  9 

Q.  What  do  you  mean  by  the  Incarnation? 

A.  By  the  Incarnation  I  mean  that  the  Son  of  God 
was  made  man. 

Q.  Hozv  zvas  the  Son  of  God  made  man? 

A.  The  Son  of  God  was  conceived  and  made  man 
by  the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  in  the  womb  of  the 
Blessed  Virgin  Mary. 

Q.  On  what  day  was  the  Son  of  God  conceived  and 
made  man? 

A.  The  Son  of  God  was  conceived  and  made  man  on 
Annunciation  day — the  day  on  which  the  Angel  Ga- 
briel announced  to  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary  that  she 
was  to  be  the  Mother  of  God. 

Q.  Was  Jesus  Christ  always  God? 

A.  Jesus  Christ  was  always  God,  as  He  is  the  second 
Person  of  the  Blessed  Trinity,  equal  to  His  Father 
from  all  eternity. 

Q.  Was  Jesus  Christ  always  man? 

A.  Jesus  Christ  was  not  always  man,  but  became 
man  at  the  time  of  His  Incarnation. 

Q.  Why  is  Jcsns  Christ  true  God? 

A.  Jesus  Christ  is  true  God  because  He  is  the  true 
and  only  Son  of  God  the  Father. 

Q.  Why  is  Jesus  Christ  true  man? 

A.  Jesus  Christ  is  true  man  because  He  is  the  Son 
of  the  Blessed  Virgin  Mary  and  has  a  body  and  soul 
like  ours. 

Q.  On  what  day  zvas  Christ  bom? 

A.  Christ  was  born  on  Christmas  day,  in  a  stable  at 
Bethlehem,  nearly  nineteen  hundred  years  ago. 

PRACTICE :     Recitation  of  the  Angelus. 


IO  THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

Reference:  Lecture  5. 
Luke:  Chap.  2,  v.  1-20. 
Point  out  on  map  Judea,  Jerusalem  and  Bethlehem. 


LECTURE  6 


AIM:    Teach  Reverence  for  the  Name  of  Jesus. 

1.  The  Circumcision.    Christ  receives  His  name, 

Jesus.     Feast  Jan.  1. 

2.  Presentation  of  the  Child  Jesus  in  the  Temple. 

Feast  Feb.  2. 

3.  Anna  and  Simeon  recognize  the  Messias  and 

prophesy  concerning  Him. 

4.  Mary  and  Joseph  offer  a  pair  of  turtle  doves, 

the  offering  of  the  poor. 

5.  The  Wise  Men  see  the  star  in  the  East  and 

come  to  Jerusalem. 

6.  They  question  Herod. 

7.  The  Adoration  of  the  Magi.     Feast  Jan.  6th. 

TEACH:  Jesus,  Mary  and  Joseph,  I  give  you  my 
heart  and  soul.  Jesus,  Mary  and  Joseph,  assist 
me  in  my  last  agony.  Jesus,  Mary  and  Joseph, 
grant  that  after  my  death  my  soul  may  rest  in 
peace  in  your  holy  company. 

QUESTIONS  IN  CATECHISM: 

Q.  What  is  the  second  Commandment? 
A.  The  second  Commandment  is:  Thou   shalt  not 
take  the  name  of  the  Lord  thy  God  in  vain. 


THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST  II 

Q.  What  are  zve  commanded  by  the  second  Com- 
mandment? 

A.  We  are  commanded  by  the  second  Command- 
ment to  speak  with  reverence  of  God  and  of  the  saints, 
and  of  all  holy  things,  and  to  keep  our  lawful  oaths 
and  vows. 

Q.  What  is  forbidden  by  the  second  Commandment f 

A.  The  second  Commandment  forbids  all  false,  rash, 
unjust,  and  unnecessary  oaths,  blasphemy,  cursing,  and 
profane  words. 

PRACTICE :     Bowing  the  head  at  the  name  of  Jesus. 


Reference:  Lecture  6. 
Luke:  Chap.  2,  v.  21-39,  Points  1,  2  and  3. 
Matt. :  Chap.  2,  v.  1-12,  Points  4,  5  and  6. 


LECTURE  7 


AIM :  Show  the  Prompt  Obedience  of  Joseph  and 
the  Magi  to  the  Voice  of  the  Angel  sent 
from  God.     Show  Providence  of  God. 

1.  The  Magi,  warned  by  an  angel  of  Herod's  evil 

intentions,  return  another  way. 

2.  Joseph  is  warned  by  an  angel  in  his  sleep. 

3.  The  Flight  into  Egypt. 

4.  The    Massacre    of    the    Innocents,    the    first 

martyrs. 

5.  Joseph,   directed  by  an   angel,   returns   from 

Egypt  to  dwell  in  Nazareth. 


12  THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

TEACH:     Prayer  to  St.  Joseph: 

''Happy  and  blessed  art  thou,  O  Joseph,  to 
whom  it  was  given  not  only  to  see  and  to  hear 
that  God  whom  many  kings  desired  to  see,  and 
saw  not,  to  hear  and  heard  not;  but  also  to  bear 
Him  in  thine  arms,  to  embrace  Him,  to  clothe 
Him,  and  to  guard  and  defend  Him." 

QUESTIONS  IN  CATECHISM: 

Q.  Where  is  God? 

A.  God  is  everywhere. 

Q.  If  God  is  everywhere,  why  do  we  not  see  Him? 

A.  We  do  not  see  God,  because  He  is  a  pure  spirit 
and  cannot  be  seen  with  bodily  eyes. 

Q.  Does  God  see  us? 

A.  God  sees  us  and  watches  over  us. 

Q.  Does  God  know  all  things? 

A.  God  knows  all  things,  even  our  most  secret 
thoughts,  words,  and  actions. 

PRACTICE:  Obeying  the  voice  of  conscience  be- 
cause it  is  the  voice  of  God  and  of  the  Guardian 
Angel. 


Reference:  Lecture  7. 

Matt. :  Chap.  2,  v.  13-23. 

Point  out  on  map  Jerusalem,   Egypt,   Galilee  and 
Nazareth. 


THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST  13 


LECTURE  8 

AIM :     Show  the  Life  of  Daily  Toil  and  Virtue  of 
the  Holy  Family. 

1.  Christ's  life  at  Nazareth  as  a  child. 

2.  Jesus,  Mary  and  Joseph  go  up  to  the  Feast  at 

Jerusalem. 

3.  Jesus   is   lost  and  is    found   in   the   Temple, 

teaching  the  Doctors. 

4.  Jesus  returns  to  Nazareth  and  is  "subject  to 

them." 

5.  Death  of  St.  Joseph,  the  just  man. 

6.  Hidden  life  of  Christ  in  Nazareth  until  His 

30th  year. 

TEACH :  Joyful  Mysteries  of  the  Rosary. 

1.  Annunciation. 

2.  Visitation. 

3.  Nativity. 

4.  Presentation  in  the  Temple. 

5.  Finding  of  the  Child  Jesus  in  the  Temple. 

QUESTIONS  IN  CATECHISM: 

Q.  What  is  the  fourth  Commandment? 

A.  The  fourth  Commandment  is :  Honor  thy  father 
and  thy  mother. 

Q.  What  are  we  commanded  by  the  fourth  Com- 
mandment f 

A.  We  are  commanded  by  the  fourth  Commandment 
to  honor,  love,  and  obey  our  parents  in  all  that  is  not 
sin. 


14  THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

Q.  Are  zve  bound  to  honor  and  obey  others  than 
our  parents? 

A.  We  are  also  bound  to  honor  and  obey  our 
bishops,  pastors,  magistrates,  -teachers,  and  other  law- 
ful superiors. 

Q.  What  is  forbidden  by  the  fourth  Commandment? 

A.  The  fourth  Commandment  forbids  all  disobedi- 
ence, contempt,  and  stubbornness  towards  our  parents 
or  lawful  superiors. 

PRACTICE :  Obedience,  respect  and  love  to  parents. 
Helpfulness  and  unselfishness  at  home  in  imitation 
of  the  Child  Jesus. 


Reference:  Lecture  8. 
Luke :  Chap.  2,  v.  40-52. 

Point  out  on  map  Galilee,  Samaria,  Judea,  Nazareth 
and  Jerusalem. 


SECOND  SERIES. 
First  Year  of  the  Public  Life  of  Christ. 

LECTURE  9 

AIM :     Show  the  Divine  Mission  of  Christ  to  Teach 
and  Redeem. 

1.  Jesus  parts  with  His  mother  at  Nazareth  to 

begin  His  work  on  this  earth. 

2.  John  the  Baptist  preaches  in  the  wilderness, 

he  baptizes,   he  announces  the  coming  of 
Christ.     (Explain  his  name.) 

3.  Christ  goes  to  him  to  be  baptized  in  the  Jor- 

dan river. 

4.  Miraculous    testimony    of    the     divinity    of 

Christ.     "This    is     My    beloved     Son,     in 
Whom  I  am  well  pleased." 

5.  Explain  the  doctrine  of  the  Trinity ;  give  sym- 

bol of  the  clover  leaf. 

TEACH :  The  Sign  of  the  Cross.  "In  the  name  of 
the  Father,  and  of  the  Son  and  of  the  Holy 
Ghost,  Amen." 

QUESTIONS  IN  CATECHISM: 

Q.  Is  there  but  one  God? 

A.  Yes ;  there  is  but  one  God. 

15 


1 6  THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

Q.  Why  can  there  be  but  one  God? 

A.  There  can  be  but  one  God  because  God,  being 
supreme  and  infinite,  cannot  have  an  equal. 

Q.  How  many  persons  are  there  in  God? 

A.  In  God  there  are  three  Divine  persons,  really 
distinct,  and  equal  in  all  things — the  Father,  the  Son, 
and  the  Holy  Ghost. 

Q.  What  is  the  Blessed  Trinity ? 

A.  The  Blessed  Trinity  is  one  God  in  three  Divine 
Persons. 

Q.  Are  the  three  Divine  Persons  one  and  the  same 
God? 

A.  The  three  Divine  Persons  are  one  and  the  same 
God,  having  one  and  the  same  Divine  nature. 

Q.  Why  do  we  make  the  sign  of  the  cross? 

A.  We  make  the  sign  of  the  cross  to  show  that  we 
are  Christians  and  to  profess  our  belief  in  the  chief 
mysteries  of  our  religion. 

PRACTICE :     Making  the  Sign  of  the  Cross  rever- 
ently. 


Reference:  Lecture  9. 
Luke:  Chap.  3,  v.  1-23,  Points  1,  2,  3  and  4. 
Matt. :  Chap.  3,  v.  1-18,  Points  2. 
Mark:  Chap.  1,  v.  2-12,  Points  2,  3  and  4. 
Point  out  on  map  the  river  Jordan  and  the  Desert 
country  between  Hebron  and  Jerusalem. 


THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST  IJ 


LECTURE  10 

AIM:  Show  how  Christ  is  our  Example  in  Over- 
coming Temptation.  Distinguish  between 
Mortal  and  Venial  Sin. 

1.  Christ   withdraws   into  the   desert   and   fasts 

forty  days  in  preparation  for  His  mission. 
(Explain  the  Lenten  fast.) 

2.  The  threefold  temptation  of  Jesus,  its  exam- 

ple to  us. 

3.  Angels  minister  to  Jesus. 

4.  Jesus  leaves  the  desert  victorious  over  evil. 

5.  John  presents   Christ  to  the  Jews  and  calls 

Him  the  "Lamb  of  God."     (Explain  these 
words  and  their  use  in  the  Mass.) 

6.  The  disciples  of  John  hear  him  and   follow 

Jesus. 

7.  The   first  disciples   of  Jesus;   the  coming  to 

Him  of  Andrew,  Simon,  Philip. 

8.  The  call  of  Nathaniel ;  Christ  sees  him  under 

the  fig  tree. 

TEACH:     O  Mary,  conceived  without  sin,  pray  for 
us  who  have  recourse  to  thee. 


QUESTIONS  IN  CATECHISM: 

Q.  Is  original  sin  the  only  kind  of  sinf 

A.  Original  sin  is  not  the  only  kind  of  sin ;  there  is 

another  kind  of  sin,  which  we  commit  ourselves,  called 

actual  sin. 

Q.  What  is  actual  sinf 


1 8  THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

A.  Actual  sin  is  any  wilful  thought,  word,  deed,  or 
omission  contrary  to  the  law  of  God. 

Q.  How  many  kinds  of  actual  sin  are  there? 

A.  There  are  two  kinds  of  actual  sin — mortal  and 
venial. 

Q.  What  is  mortal  sin? 

A.  Mortal  sin  is  a  grievous  offence  against  the  law 
of  God. 

Q.  What  is  venial  sin? 

A.  Venial  sin  is  a  slight  offence  against  the  law  of 
God. 

PRACTICE:     To  pray  when  tempted. 


Reference:  Lecture  io. 
Matt.:  Chap.  4,  v.  1-11,  Points  1,  2  and  3. 
Luke:  Chap.  4,  v.  1-13,  Points  1,  2  and  3. 
John:  Chap.  1,  v.  19-51,  Points  4,  5,  6  and  7. 
Mark:  Chap.  1,  v.  12-20,  Points  5  and  6. 
Point  out  on  the  map  the  desert  and  the  Jordan. 


LECTURE  11 


AIM :     Show  the  Influence  of  the  B.  V.  Mary  with 
Jesus.     Teach  Reverence  in  Church. 

1.  The  first  miracle:  at  the  marriage  feast  of 

Cana,    performed    at    the    request    of    His 
mother. 

2.  The  solicitude  of  Mary  for  the  needs  of  her 

host. 


THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST  19 

3.  Jesus  goes  to  Jerusalem. 

4.  Jesus  expels  the  buyers  and  sellers  from  the 

Temple  in  Jerusalem. 

5.  Jesus  and  Nicodemus. 


QUESTIONS  IN  CATECHISM: 

Q.  What  is  a  Sacrament? 

A.  A  Sacrament  is  an  outward  sign  instituted  by 
Christ  to  give  grace. 

Q.  How  many  Sacraments  are  there? 

A.  There  are  seven  Sacraments:  Baptism,  Con- 
firmation, Holy  Eucharist,  Penance,  Extreme  Unction, 
Holy  Orders,  and  Matrimony. 

Q.  What  is  the  Sacrament  of  Matrimony? 

A.  The  Sacrament  of  Matrimony  is  the  Sacrament 
which  unites  a  Christian  man  and  woman  in  lawful 
marriage. 

PRACTICE:     Reverence  in  Church.     Consideration 
for  the  feelings  of  others. 


Reference:  Lecture  ii. 
John:  Chap.  2,  Points  1,  2,  3  and  4. 
John:  Chap.  3,  v.  1-21,  Point  5. 
Point  out  on  the  map  Galilee,  Cana,  Capharnaum, 
Jerusalem. 


20  THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 


LECTURE  12 

AIM :     Show  the  Tender  Love  of  Jesus  for  all  Men. 
The  Ingratitude  of  Men. 

1.  Jesus  withdraws  to  Samaria. 

2.  Jesus  and  the  Samaritan  woman  at  the  well ; 

she  acknowledges  her  sins.     (Explain  con- 
fession as  needful  for  forgiveness.) 

3.  Jesus  heals  the  son  of  the  ruler  of  Caphar- 

naum. 

4.  Jesus  preaches  in  the  synagogue  at  Nazareth, 

and  is  expelled  from  the  synagogue. 

QUESTIONS  IN  CATECHISM: 

Q.  What  is  the  Sacrament  of  Penance ? 

A.  Penance  is'  a  Sacrament  in  which  the  sins  com- 
mitted after  Baptism  are  forgiven. 

Q.  What  must  we  do  to  receive  the  Sacrament  of 
Penance  worthily? 

A.  To  receive  the  Sacrament  of  Penance  worthily 
we  must  do  five  things :  ■ 

1.  We  must  examine  our  conscience. 

2.  We  must  have  sorrow  for  our  sins. 

3.  We  must  make  a  firm  resolution  never  more  to 
offend  God. 

4.  We  must  confess  our  sins  to  the  priest. 

5.  We  must  accept  the  penance  which  the  priest 
gives  us. 

Q.  What  is  the  examination  of  conscience? 

A.  The  examination  of  conscience  is  an  earnest  ef- 
fort to  recall  to  mind  all  the  sins  we  have  committed 
since  our  last  worthy  confession. 


THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST  21 

Q.   What  is  Confession? 

A.  Confession  is  the  telling  of  our  sins  to  a  duly 
authorized  priest,  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  for- 
giveness. 

Q.  What  sins  are  we  bound  to  confess? 

A.  We  are  bound  to  confess  all  our  mortal  sins,  but 
it  is  well  also  to  confess  our  venial  sins. 

Q.  Is  it  a  grievous  offence  wilfully  to  conceal  a 
mortal  sin  in  Confession? 

A.  It  is  a  grievous  offence  wilfully  to  conceal  a 
mortal  sin  in  Confession,  because  we  thereby  tell  a  lie 
to  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  make  our  Confession  worthless. 

Q.  What  must  he  do  who  has  wilfully  concealed  a 
mortal  sin  in  Confession? 

A.  He  who  has  wilfully  concealed  a  mortal  sin  in 
Confession  must  not  only  confess  it,  but  must  also  re- 
peat all  the  sins  he  has  committed  since  his  last  worthy 
Confession. 

PRACTICE:     Frequent  reception  of  the  Sacrament 
of  Penance. 


Reference:  Lecture  12. 
John:  Chap.  4,  Points  1,  2  and  3. 
Luke :  Chap.  4,  v.  14-30,  Point  4. 
Point  out  on  the  map  Galilee,  Samaria,  Capharnaum, 
Nazareth. 


22  THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

Second  Year  of  the  Ministry  of  Christ. 

LECTURE  13 

AIM :  Teach  Obedience  to  our  Duty,  which  is  the 
Call  of  Christ  for  each  of  us,  and  our  Need 
of  'Grace  to  Fulfil  It. 

1.  Jesus  calls  the  fishermen,  Simon  and  Andrew, 

James  and  John,  to  leave  their  nets  and  fol- 
low Him. 

2.  Jesus  preaches  to  the  people  from  the  boat. 

3.  The  miraculous  draught  of  fishes. 

4.  Christ  promises  that  He  will  make  Simon  a 

fisher  of  men. 

5.  The  call  of  St.  Matthew. 

QUESTIONS  IN  CATECHISM: 

Q.  What  do  yon  mean  by  grace? 

A.  By  grace  I  mean  a  supernatural  gift  of  God  be- 
stowed on  us,  through  the  merits  of  Jesus  Christ,  for 
our  salvation. 

Q.  How  many  kinds  of  grace  are  there? 

A.  There  are  two  kinds  of  grace,  sanctifying  grace 
and  actual  grace. 

Q.   What  is  sanctifying  grace? 

A.  Sanctifying  grace  is  that  grace  which  makes  the 
soul  holy  and  pleasing  to  God. 

Q.   What  is  actual  grace? 

A.  Actual  grace  is  that  help  of  God  which  enlightens 
our  mind  and  moves  our  will  to  shun  evil  and  do  good. 

Q.  Is  grace  necessary  to  salvation? 


THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST  23 

A.  Grace  is  necessary  to  salvation,  because  without 
grace  we  can  do  nothing  to  merit  heaven. 

Q.  What  is  the  grace  of  perseverance? 

A.  The  grace  of  perseverance  is  a  particular  gift  of 
God  which  enables  us  to  continue  in  the  state  of  grace 
till  death. 

PRACTICE:     Faithfulness  to  our  duties,  both  little 
and  great. 


Reference:  Lecture  13. 
Luke:  Chap.  5,  v.  1-11,  Points  1,  2,  3  and  4. 
Matt. :  Chap.  9,  v.  9,  Point  5. 
Point  out  on  map  Lake  of  Galilee,  Capharnaum. 


LECTURE  14 


AIM:     Show    the    Divine    Mission    of    Christ    to 
Establish  the  Church. 

1.  Jesus  chooses  from  among  His  disciples   12 

Apostles. 

2.  Jesus  sends  His  Apostles  on  their  mission  to 

preach  and  teach. 

3.  The  bishops  and  priests  of  the  Church  con- 

tinue this  work. 

4.  Describe  the  persecution  of  the  Church ;  apos- 

tles martyred  for  the  Faith;  cite  examples, 
St.  Agnes,  St.  Cecelia,  etc. 

5.  The   cure   of   the  paralytic   at   the    Pool   of 

Bethesda. 


24  THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

QUESTIONS  IN  CATECHISM: 

Q.  Which  are  the  means  instituted  by  our  Lord  to 
enable  men  at  all  times  to  share  in  the  fruits  of  the 
Redemption? 

A.  The  means  instituted  by  our  Lord  to  enable  men 
at  all  times  to  share  in  the  fruits  of  His  Redemption 
are  the  Church  and  the  Sacraments. 

Q.  What  is  the  Church? 

A.  The  Church  is  the  congregation  of  all  those  who 
profess  the  faith  of  Christ,  partake  of  the  same  Sacra- 
ments, and  are  governed  by  their  lawful  pastors  under 
one  visible  Head. 

Q.  Why  did  Christ  found  the  Church? 

A.  Christ  founded  the  Church  to  teach,  govern, 
sanctify,  and  save  all  men. 

Q.  Who  are  the  successors  of  the  Apostles? 

A.  The  successors  of  the  Apostles  are  the  Bishops 
of  the  Holy  Catholic  Church. 

PRACTICE:     Reverence  for  Priests — God's  messen- 
gers to  us. 


Reference:  Lecture  14. 

Luke:    Chap.     6,  v.  12-16 

Mark:   Chap.     3,  v.  13-19    I  Points  1  and  2, 

Matt.:   Chap.  10,  v.     2-  4 

John:  Chap.  5,  v.  1-18,  Point  5. 
Point  out  on  map  Jerusalem. 


THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST  2$ 

LECTURE  15 

AIM:     Show  how  Christ  Himself  Teaches  us  how 
to  Pray. 

1.  Jesus  withdraws  to  a  mountain  and  spends 

the  night  in  prayer. 

2.  The    Eight    Beatitudes.     Read    and    explain 

briefly. 

3.  Christ  teaches  the  law  of  love. 

4.  Christ  teaches  the  Our  Father. 

5.  Explain  the  Our  Father. 

TEACH:  The  Lord's  Prayer. 

Our  Father,  who  art  in  Heaven,  hallowed  be 
Thy  name ;  Thy  kingdom  come ;  Thy  will  be  done 
on  earth  as  it  is  in  Heaven.  Give  us  this  day  our 
daily  bread;  and  forgive  us  our  trespasses  as  we 
forgive  those  who  trespass  against  us;  and  lead 
us  not  into  temptation,  but  deliver  us  from  evil. 
Amen. 

QUESTIONS  IN  CATECHISM: 

Q.  Is  there  any  other  means  of  obtaining  God's 
grace  than  the  Sacraments? 

A.  There  is  another  means  of  obtaining  God's  grace, 
and  it  is  prayer. 

Q.   What  is  prayer? 

A.  Prayer  is  the  lifting  up  of  our  minds  and  hearts 
to  God  to  adore  Him,  to  thank  Him  for  His  benefits, 
to  ask  His  forgiveness,  and  to  beg  of  Him  all  the 
graces  we  need  whether  for  soul  or  body. 

Q.  Is  prayer  necessary  to  salvation? 


26  THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

A.  Prayer  is  necessary  to  salvation,  and  without  it 
no  one  having  the  use  of  reason  can  be  saved. 

Q.  At  zvhat  particular  times  should  we  pray? 

A.  We  should  pray  particularly  on  Sundays  and 
holydays,  every  morning  and  night,  in  all  dangers, 
temptations,  and  afflictions. 

Q.  Which  are  the  prayers  most  recommended  to  us? 

A.  The  prayers  most  recommended  to  us  are  the 
Lord's  Prayer,  the  Hail  Mary,  the  Apostles'  Creed, 
the  Confiteor,  and  the  Acts  of  Faith,  Hope,  Love,  and 
Contrition. 

Q.  Are  prayers  said  with  distractions  of  any  avail? 

A.  Prayers  said  with  wilful  distractions  are  of  no 
avail. 

PRACTICE:     Faithfulness    to    morning    and    night 
prayers,  and'  attention  and  respect  in  saying  them. 


Reference:  Lecture  15. 
Luke:  Chap.  6,  v.  12,  Point  1. 
Matt. :     Chap.  5,  v.  6  and  7,  Points  1,  2,  3  and  4. 
Point  out  on  the  map  the  hills  between  Capharnaum 
and  Tiberias. 


Third  Year  of  the  Public  Life  of  Christ. 
LECTURE  16 

AIM:     Show  the  Kindness  of  the  Heart  of  Jesus. 
The  Mystery  of  Divine  Love  as  Shown  to 
us  by  Christ. 
1.     The  multiplication  of  the  loaves  and  fishes. 


THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST  27 

2.  Christ  promises  the  Eucharist.     Explain  the 

figure  in  the  above  miracle. 

3.  Teach  about  the  Sacrament  of  the  Eucharist. 

4.  Jesus  walks  upon  the  waters. 

5.  Peter  goes  to  Him  on  the  waters. 

QUESTIONS  IN  CATECHISM: 

Q.   What  is  the  Holy  Eucharist? 

A.  The  Holy  Eucharist  is  the  Sacrament  which  con- 
tains the  body  and  blood,  soul  and  divinity,  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ  under  the  appearances  of  bread  and 
wine. 

Q.  What  do  you  mean  by  the  appearances  of  bread 
and  nine? 

A.  By  the  appearances  of  bread  and  wine  I  mean  the 
figure,  the  color,  the  taste,  and  whatever  appears  to 
the  senses. 

PRACTICE:     Frequent  reception  of  the  Sacrament 
of  the  Holy  Eucharist. 


Reference:  Lecture  16. 
Matt.:  Chap.  14,  v.  13-34 
Mark:   Chap.     6,  v.  30-54 
Luke:    Chap.     9,  v.  10-17 
John:     Chap.     6,  v.     1-60  J 
Point  out  on  the  map  the  Sea  of  Galilee  and  Be- 
thesda. 


Points  1,  2,  3,  4  and  5. 


28  THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

LECTURE  17 

AIM:  Show  the  Power  of  Christ,  the  Son  of  God, 
His  Love  for  all  Men,  Especially  Those  in 
Sorrow.     Faith  Rewarded. 

1.  Christ    manifests    His    divinity    by    miracles. 

What  is  a  miracle?  Select  from  the  fol- 
lowing : 

2.  Healing  the  servant  of  the  Centurion.    "Lord, 

I  am  not  worthy  that  Thou  should  enter 
under  my  roof.  Say  but  the  word,  and  my 
servant  shall  be  healed."  Explain  the  use 
of  these  words  in  the  Mass. 

3.  The  son  of  the  widow  of  Nairn  raised  to  life. 

4.  The  ruler's  daughter  raised  to  life. 

5.  Christ  stills  the  tempest. 

6.  Cure  of  the  man  born  blind. 

7.  Cure  of  the  paralytic  let  down  through  the 

roof. 

8.  The  ten  Lepers. 

9.  Christ  heals  all  the  sick  brought  to  Him. 

TEACH:  Prayer  of  Newman. 

"Let  me  never  forget  that  the  same  God  Who 
made  me,  made  the  whole  world,  and  all  men  and 
animals  that  live  in  it.  Give  me  the  grace  to  love 
all  God's  works  for  God's  sake ;  and  all  men  for 
the  sake  of  my  Lord  and  Saviour,  Who  redeemed 
them  on  the  cross." 

QUESTIONS  IN  CATECHISM: 

Q.  Which  are  the  Commandments  that  contain  the 
whole  law  of  God? 


THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST  29 

A.  The  Commandments  which  contain  the  whole 
law  of  God  are  these  two:  1st,  Thou  shalt  love  the 
Lord  thy  God  with  thy  whole  heart,  with  thy  whole 
soul,  with  thy  whole  strength,  and  with  thy  whole 
mind;  2d,  Thou  shalt  love  thy  neighbor  as  thyself. 

PRACTICE:  Kindness  to  all,  especially  the  aged, 
the  sick  and  the  helpless,  in  imitation  of  the  kind- 
ness of  the  Heart  of  Jesus.  Kindness  to  animals 
because  they  are  God's  creatures. 


Reference:  Lecture  17. 
Luke :  Chap.  10,  v.  30-38,  Point  2. 
Luke:  Chap.  8,  v.  4-15,  Point  3. 
Luke:  Chap.  15,  Points  4,  5  and  6. 
Matt.:  Chap.  22,  v.  1-14,  Point  7. 
Luke:  Chap.  16,  v.  19-31,  Point  8. 
Point  out  on  the  map  Jerusalem,  Jericho. 


LECTURE  18 


AIM:     Show  the  Mercy  and  Love  of  God  for  All 
Sinners  Taught  by  Christ  in  the  Parables. 

1.  Christ  teaches  by  parables.     What  is  a  para- 

ble ?     Select  from  the  following : 

2.  The  Parable  of  the  Good  Samaritan. 

3.  The  Parable  of  the  Sower. 

4.  The  Parable  of  the  Lost  Sheep. 

5.  The  Parable  of  the  Prodigal  Son. 

6.  The  Parable  of  the  Lost  Groat. 


30  THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

7.  The  Parable  of  the  Wedding  Feast. 

8.  The  Parable  of  Dives  and  Lazarus. 

QUESTIONS  IN  CATECHISM: 

Q.  What  is  the  eighth  Commandment ? 

A.  The  eighth  Commandment  is :  Thou  shalt  not 
bear  false  witness  against  thy  neighbor. 

Q.  What  are  we  commanded  by  the  eighth  Com- 
mandment? 

A.  We  are  commanded  by  the  eighth  Command- 
ment to  speak  the  truth  in  all  things,  and  to  be  careful 
of  the  honor  and  reputation  of  every  one. 

Q.  What  is  forbidden  by  the  eighth  Commandment? 

A.  The  eighth  Commandment  forbids  all  rash  judg- 
ments, back-biting,  slanders,  and  lies. 

PRACTICE:  Kindness  and  charity  in  speech  to- 
wards wrong-doers.  Not  to  repeat  the  evil  we 
know  of  our  neighbors.     Truthfulness. 


Reference":  Lecture  18. 
Luke:  Chap.  7,  v.  1-10,  Point  2. 
Luke:  Chap.  7,  v.  11 -15,  Point  3. 
Luke:    Chap.  8,  v.  41-56  "1       . 
Matt. :  Chap.  9,  v.   18-26  J  ^°mt  4' 
Luke:  Chap.  15,  v.  11-32,  Point  5. 
John:  Chap.  9,  v.  1-41,  Point  6. 
Luke:  Chap.  5,  v.  17-26,  Point  7. 
Luke:  Chap.  9,  v.  11,  Point  8. 
Luke:  Chap.  17,  v.  12-19,  Point  9. 
Point  out  on  map  Lake  of  Galilee,  Nairn  and  Ca- 
pharnaum. 


THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST  31 


LECTURE  19 

AIM:     Show  the  Love  of  Christ  for  Children  and 
Sinners. 

1.  John  sends  his  disciples  to  Jesus.     They  see 

Him  heal  the  sick. 

2.  Beheading  of  John  the  Baptist  for  his  fearless 

speaking  of  the  truth. 

3.  The  widow's  mite. 

4.  Mary  Magdalen  is  absolved  at  the  Feast  of 

Simon.     Explain  Sacrament  of  Penance. 

5.  Christ  blesses   little  children  and  bids   them 

come  to  Him. 

QUESTIONS  IN  CATECHISM: 

Q.  What  is  the  Sacrament  of  Penance? 

A.  Penance  is  a  Sacrament  in  which  the  sins  com- 
mitted after  Baptism  are  forgiven. 

Q.  How  does  the  Sacrament  of  Penance  remit  sin, 
and  restore  to  the  soul  the  friendship  of  God? 

A.  The  Sacrament  of  Penance  remits  sin  and  re- 
stores the  friendship  of  God  to  the  soul  by  means  of 
the  absolution  of  the  priest. 

Q.  Hozv  do  you  know  that  the  priest  has  the  power 
of  absolving  from  the  sins  committed  after  Baptism? 

A.  I  know  that  the  priest  has  the  power  of  absolv- 
ing from  the  sins  committed  after  Baptism,  because 
Jesus  Christ  granted  that  power  to  the  priests  of  His 
Church  when  He  said:  "Receive  ye  the  Holy  Ghost. 
Whose  sins  you  shall  forgive,  they  are  forgiven  them; 
zuhose  sins  you  shall  retain,  they  are  retained." 


32 


THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 


Q.  Hozv  do  the  priests  of  the  Church  exercise  the 
power  of  forgiving  sins? 

A.  The  priests  of  the  Church  exercise  the  power  of 
forgiving  sins  by  hearing  the  confession  of  sins,  and 
granting  pardon  for  them  as*  ministers  of  God  and  in 
His  name. 

PRACTICE:     Perfect   love    for    Christ   Jesus,   who 
loved  children.     Truthfulness  in  all  things. 


Reference  :  Lecture  19. 
Matt. :   Chap.     9,  v.     2-  6 
Luke :    Chap.     7,  v.  17-35 
Matt.:   Chap.   14,  v.     1-12  I  Point  2. 
Luke:    Chap.  21,  v.     1-4 
Mark:   Chap.  12,  v.  41-44 

Matt.:  Chap.  26,  v.  6-13 
Mark:  Chap.  14,  v.  3-  9 
John:     Chap.   12,  v.     2-12 

Mark:   Chap.   10,  v.  13-16   1       '.  , 

^,  I  Point  S. 

Matt.:   Chap.   19,  v.   13-15    ' 


Point  1. 
Point  2. 
Point  3. 

>  Point  4. 


LECTURE  20 

AIM:  Show  how  Christ  About  to  Die  Manifests 
His  Divinity  to  His  Disciples  and  Estab- 
lishes His  Church.  Show  that  Death  is  but 
the  Dcor  to  Eternal  Life. 

1.  The  Transfiguration  on  the  Mount. 

2.  The  raising  of  Lazarus  from  the  dead. 


THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST  33 

3.  Christ   gives   to   St.   Peter   the  keys  of   the 

Church.     (Explain  the  power  of  the  Holy 
Father  as  descended  from  St.  Peter.) 

4.  Christ  foretells  His  death  and  resurrection. 

5.  The  barren  fig  tree. 

QUESTIONS  IN  CATECHISM: 

Q.    Who  is  the  Invisible  Head  of  the  Church? 
'     A.  Jesus  Christ  is  the  invisible  Head  of  the  Church. 

Q.  Who  is  the  visible  Head  of  the  Church  ? 

A.  Our  Holy  Father  the  Pope,  the  Bishop  of  Rome, 
is  the  Vicar  of  Christ  on  earth  and  the  visible  Head 
of  the  Church. 

Q.  Why  is  the  Pope,  the  Bishop  of  Rome,  the  visi- 
ble Head  of  the  Church? 

A.  The  Pope,  the  Bishop  of  Rome,  is  the  visible 
Head  of  the  Church  because  he  is  the  successor  of  St. 
Peter,  whom  Christ  made  the  chief  of  the  Apostles  and 
the  visible  Head  of  the  Church. 

PRACTICE :     Pray  for  our  Holy  Father,  the  Pope. 


Reference:  Lecture  20. 
Luke:    Chap.     9,  v.  28-36  ] 
Mark:   Chap.     9,  v.     1-12   j^ Point  1. 
Matt.:   Chap.  17,  v.     1-13  J 
John:     Chap.  11,  v.  17-44  \ Point  2. 
John:     Chap.  21,  v.  15-24  j  Point  3. 
Luke:    Chap-  18,  v.  31-34  jp 
Matt. :  Chap.  20,  v.  17-19  J 
Matt.:  Chap.  21,  v.  19        J  Point  5. 
Point  out  on  map  Bethany. 


34  THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 


LECTURE  21 

AIM:  Show  how  Christ's  Mission  ok  Earth  was 
Threefold,  to  Redeem,  to  Teach,  and  to 
Establish  His  Church. 

1.  The  rich  young  man. 

2.  The  Commandments,  when  and  where  first 

given. 

3.  Their  confirmation  by  Christ. 

4.  The  law  of  love  because  we  are  all  the  chil- 

dren of  one  Father  in  Heaven. 

5.  Zacheus  climbs  the  tree  to  see  our  Lord  and 

is  invited  to  receive  Him  in  his  house. 
Zacheus  offers  to  make  bountiful  restitution 
and  is  promised  salvation. 

QUESTIONS  IN  CATECHISM: 

Q.  Is  it  enough  to  belong  to  God's  Church  in  order 
to  be  saved? 

A.  It  is  not  enough  to  belong  to  the  Church  in  order 
to  be  saved,  but  we  must  also  keep  the  Commandments 
of  God  and  of  the  Church. 

Q.  Which  are  the  Commandments  of  God? 

A.  The  Commandments  of  God  are  these  ten : 

1.  I  am  the  Lord  thy  God.  Thou  shalt  not  have 
strange  gods  before  me. 

2.  Thou  shalt  not  take  the  name  of  the  Lord  thy 
God  in  vain. 

3.  Remember  thou  keep  holy  the  Sabbath  day. 

4.  Honor  thy  father  and  thy  mother. 

5.  Thou  shalt  not  kill. 


THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST  35 

6.  Thou  shalt  not  commit  adultery. 

7.  Thou  shalt  not  steal. 

8.  Thou  shalt  not  bear  false  witness  against  thy 
neighbor. 

9.  Thou  shalt  not  covet  thy  neighbor's  wife. 
10.  Thou  shalt  not  covet  thy  neighbor's  goods. 

Q.  Who  gave  the  Ten  Commandments? 

A.  God  Himself  gave  the  Ten  Commandments  to 
Moses  on  Mount  Sinai,  and  Christ  our  Lord  confirmed 
them. 

Q.  What  is  the  seventh  Commandment? 

A.  The  seventh  Commandment  is:  Thou  shalt  not 
steal. 

Q.  What  are  we  commanded  by  the  seventh  Com- 
mandment? 

A.  By  the  seventh  Commandment  we  are  command- 
ed to  give  to  all  men  what  belongs  to  them  and  to  re- 
spect their  property. 

Q.  What  is  forbidden  by  the  seventh  Command- 
ment? 

A.  The  seventh  Commandment  forbids  all  unjust 
taking  or  keeping  what  belongs  to  another. 

Q.  Are  we  bound  to  restore  ill-gotten  goods? 

A.  We  are  bound  to  restore  ill-gotten  goods,  or  the 
value  of  them,  as  far  as  we  are  able;  otherwise  we 
cannot  be  forgiven. 

Q.  Are  we  obliged  to  repair  the  damage  we  have 
unjustly  caused? 

A.  We  are  bound  to  repair  the  damage  we  have  un- 
justly caused. 

Q.  What  is  the  tenth  Commandment? 

A.  The  tenth  Commandment  is:  Thou  shalt  not 
covet  thy  neighbor's  goods. 


36  THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

Q.  What  are  we  commanded  by  the  tenth  Com- 
mandment? 

A.  By  the  tenth  Commandment  we  are  commanded 
to  be  content  with  what  we  have,  and  to  rejoice  in  our 
neighbor's  welfare. 

Q.  What  is  forbidden  by  the  tenth  Commandment ? 

A.  The  tenth  Commandment  forbids  all  desires  to 
take  or  keep  wrongfully  what  belongs  to  another. 

PRACTICE:  Examination  of  conscience  every  night 
on  the  faults  of  the  day,  especially  on  our  princi- 
pal fault.     Honesty  in  all  dealings  with  others, 


Reference:  Lecture  21. 
Matt.:   Chap.  19,  v.  16-25,  ^ 
Luke :    Chap.   18.  v.  18-30,   L  Points  1  and  3. 
Mark:   Chap.  .10,  v.  17-26,  J 
Luke :    Chap.   10,  v.  25-29,  Point  4. 
Luke:    Chap.  19,  v.     1-10,  Point  5. 


THIRD  SERIES, 
Last  Days  of  Christ. 

LECTURE  22 

AIM :  Show  how  the  Sacrifice  of  the  Cross  and  the 
Institution  of  the  Blessed  Eucharist  were 
Prefigured  in  the  Old  Law  and  Continually 
Announced  by  Christ  in  His  Life. 

1.  Jesus,  being  now  33  years  of  age  and  His  last 

days  drawing  near,  goes  up  to  Jerusalem 
for  the  Feast  of  the  Pasch. 

2.  What  is  this  Feast? 

3.  Jesus  weeps  over  Jerusalem. 

4.  Jesus  foretells  His  death  and  resurrection  to 

His  disciples. 
.5.     Jesus  sends  His  disciples  ahead  to  bring  Him 
an  ass. 

6.  The  triumphal  entry  into  Jerusalem. 

7.  Jesus  hailed  as  King.     "Hosanna  in  the  high- 

est!  Blessed  is  He  Who  cometh  in  the 
name  of  the  Lord."  Same  words  used  in 
Mass  before  the  Sacrifice. 

8.  Jesus  sends  His  disciples  ahead  to  prepare  the 

Feast. 

9.  The  Holy  Eucharist  prefigured  by  the  manna 

in  the  desert,  by  the  miracle  of  the  loaves 
and  fishes. 

37 


38  THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

10.     "With  great  desire  have  I  desired  to  eat  this 
Pasch  with  you." 


QUESTIONS  IN  CATECHISM: 

Q.  How  are  we  united  to  Jesus  Christ  in  the  Holy 
Eucharist? 

A.  We  are  united  to  Jesus  Christ  in  the  Holy  Eu- 
charist by  means  of  Holy  Communion. 

Q.   What  is  Holy  Communion? 

A.  Holy  Communion  is  the  receiving  of  the  body 
and  blood  of  Christ. 

Q.   What  is  necessary  to  make  a  good  Communion ? 

A.  To  make  a  good  Communion  it  is  necessary  to 
be  in  the  state  of  grace  and  to  be  fasting  from  mid- 
night. 

PRACTICE :     Frequent  Communion. 


Reference:  Lecture  22. 

Luke :   Chap.  19,  v.  29-48,  Points  3,  5,  6  and  7. 

John:     Chap.  12,  v.    12-19,  Points  4,  6  and  7. 

Mark:  Chap.  11,  v.    1-11,  ]  .,.■      „  ,       - 

^,  \  Points  5,  6  and  7. 

Matt.:  Chap.  21,  v.     1-17,  J  D'  ' 

Matt:  Chap.  26,  v.  17-20,  Point  8. 

Point  out  Jerusalem  on  the  map. 


THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST  39 

LECTURE  23 

AIM:     Show  the  Love  of  Christ  in  the  Institution 
of  the  Blessed  Eucharist. 

1.  The  Last  Supper. 

2.  Christ  washes  the  feet  of  His  disciples. 

(a)  Humility  of  Christ. 

(b)  Purity  needful  for  communion. 

3.  Christ  warns  His  disciples  that  one  of  them 

will  betray  Him. 

4.  Peter's  assurances  of  fidelity. 

5.  Judas,    the    example    of    sacrilegious    com- 

munion. 

6.  The    prayer    of    Christ    for    His    disciples. 

(Read  portion  of  text.) 

7.  Question  on  and  explain  the  Eucharist. 

8.  The  purpose  of  communion:  to  nourish  the 

soul  as  bread  nourishes  the  body  that  we 
may  be  strengthened  against  temptation  and 
lead  a  divine  life. 

QUESTIONS  IN  CATECHISM: 

Q.  What  is  the  Holy  Eucharist? 

A.  The  Holy  Eucharist  is  the  Sacrament  which  con- 
tains the  body  and  blood,  soul  and  divinity,  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ  under  the  appearances  of  bread  and 
wine. 

Q.  When  did  Christ  institute  the  Holy  Eucharist  ? 

A.  Christ  instituted  the  Holy  Eucharist  at  the  Last 
Supper,  the  night  before  He  died. 

Q.  Who  were  present  when  our  Lord  instituted  the 
Holy  Eucharist? 


40  THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

A.  When  our  Lord  instituted  the  Holy  Eucharist 
the  twelve  Apostles  were  present. 

Q.  How  did  our  Lord  institute  the  Holy  Eucharist? 

A.  Our  Lord  instituted  the  Holy  Eucharist  by  tak- 
ing bread,  blessing,  breaking,  -and  giving  to  His  Apos- 
tles, saying:  "Take  ye  and  eat.  This  is  my  body" ; 
and  then  by  taking  the  cup  of  wine,  blessing  and  giv- 
ing it,  saying  to  them:  "Drink  ye  all  of  this.  This  is 
my  blood  which  shall  be  shed  for  the  remission  of  sins. 
Do  this  for  a  commemoration  of  me." 

Q.  What  happened  when  our  Lord  said,  This  is  my 
body;  this  is  my  blood? 

A.  When  our  Lord  said,  This  is  my  body,  the  sub- 
stance of  the  bread  was  changed  into  the  substance  of 
His  body;  when  He  said,  This  is  my  blood,  the  sub- 
stance of  the  wine  was  changed  into  the  substance  of 
His  blood. 

Q.  When  did  Christ  give  His  priests  the  power  to 
change  bread  and  wine  into  His  body  and  blood? 

A.  Christ  gave  His  priests  the  power  to  change 
bread  and  wine  into  His  body  and  blood  when  he  said 
to  the  Apostles,  Do  this  for  a  commemoration  of  me. 

Q.  Does  he  who  receives  Communion  in  mortal  sin 
receive  the  body  and  blood  of  Christ? 

A.  He  who  receives  Communion  in  mortal  sin  re- 
ceives the  body  and  blood  of  Christ,  but  does  not  re- 
ceive His  grace,  and  he  commits  a  great  sacrilege. 

PRACTICE :     Prepare  by  great  purity  of  life  for  re- 
ceiving Holy  Communion. 


THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST  41 

Reference:  Lecture  23. 
Matt. :  Chap.  26,  v.  26-29  ] 
Mark:  Chap.  14,  v.  22-55  [-Points  I,  2  and  3. 
Luke:    Chap.  22,  v.  15-20 J 


LECTURE  M 


AIM:     To    Show   the    Continuation    of   the    Last 
Supper  in  the  Mass  and  Communion. 

r.     The  Last  Supper:   continued. 

2.  Transubstantiation. 

3.  Christ  confers   this  power  on  His  disciples ; 

same  words  used  in  the  Mass. 

4.  The  Mass  a  continuation  of  the  Last  Supper. 

QUESTIONS  IN  CATECHISM: 

Q.  When  did  Christ  give  His  priests  the  power  to 
change  bread  and  wine  into  His  body  and  blood? 

A.  Christ  gave  His  priests  the  power  to  change 
bread  and  wine  into  His  body  and  blood  when  He  said 
to  the  Apostles,  Do  this  in  commemoration  of  me. 

Q.  How  do  the  priests  exercise  this  power  of  chang- 
ing bread  and  wine  into  the  body  and  blood  of  Christ? 

A.  The  priests  exercise  this  power  of  changing 
bread  and  wine  into  the  body  and  blood  of  Christ 
through  the  words  of  consecration  in  the  Mass,  which 
are  the  words  of  Christ:  This  is  my  body;  this  is  my 
blood. 

Q.  When  are  the  bread  and  wine  changed  into  the 
body  and  blood  of  Christ? 


42  THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

A.  The  bread  and  wine  are  changed  into  the  body 
and  blood  of  Christ  at  the  Consecration  in  the  Mass. 

Q.  What  is  the  Mass? 

A.  The  Mass  is  the  unbloody  sacrifice  of  the  body 
and  blood  of  Christ. 

Q.  How  should  we  assist  at  Mass? 

A.  We  should  assist  at  Mass  with  great  interior 
recollection  and  piety,  and  with  every  outward  mark 
of  respect  and  devotion. 

PRACTICE:     To  visit  the  Blessed  Sacrament  and  to 
genuflect  devoutly  before  the  Blessed  Sacrament. 


Reference:  Lecture  24. 
John:    Chap.  13,  v.     1-38,  Points  1,  2,  3,  4  and  5. 
Luke:  Chap.  22,  v.  31-34,  Point  4. 
John:    Chap.  17,  v.     1-26,  Point  6. 


LECTURE  25 

AIM :  To  Show  the  Evil  of  Sin  which  Caused  such 
Suffering  to  Christ,  the  Need  of  Watchful- 
ness. 

1.  Jesus  taking  three  disciples  goes  to  the  Gar- 

den of  Gethsemane. 

2.  Agony  in  the  Garden. 

3.  The  Betrayal. 

4.  End  of  Judas. 


THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST  43 

QUESTIONS  IN  CATECHISM: 

Q.  What  is  actual  sin? 

A.  Actual  sin  is  any  wilful  thought,  word,  deed,  or 
omission  contrary  to  the  law  of  God. 

Q.  How  many  kinds  of  actual  sin  are  there? 

A.  There  are  two  kinds  of  actual  sin — mortal  and 
venial. 

Q.  W hat  is  mortal  sin? 

A.  Mortal  sin  is  a  grievous  offence  against  the  law 
of  God. 

Q.   Why  is  this  sin  called  mortal? 

A.  This  sin  is  called  mortal  because  it  deprives  us 
of  spiritual  life,  which  is  sanctifying  grace,  and  brings 
everlasting  death  and  damnation  on  the  soul. 

Q.  How  many  things  are  necessary  to  make  a  sin 
mortal? 

A.  To  make  a  sin  mortal  three  things  are  necessary : 
a  grievous  matter,  sufficient  reflection,  and  full  consent 
of  the  will. 

Q.   What  is  venial  sin? 

A.  Venial  sin  is  a  slight  offence  against  the  law  of 
God  in  matters  of  less  importance,  or  in  matters  of 
great  importance  it  is  an  offence  committed  without 
sufficient  reflection  or  full  consent  of  the  will. 

Q.  What  is  contrition,  or  sorrow  for  sin? 

A.  Contrition,  or  sorrow  for  sin,  is  a  hatred  of  sin 
and  a  true  grief  of  the  soul  for  having  offended  God, 
with  a  firm  purpose  of  sinning  no  more. 

Q.   Why  should  we  be  sorry  for  our  sins? 

A.  We  should  be  sorry  for  our  sins,  because  sin  is 
the  greatest  of  evils  and  an  offence  against  God  our 
Creator,  Preserver,  and  Redeemer,  and  because  mortal 


44  THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

sin  shuts  us  out  of  heaven  and  condemns  us  to  the 
eternals  pains  of  hell. 

Q.  What  do  you  mean  by  a  Arm  purpose  of  sinning 
no  more? 

A.  By  a  firm  purpose  of  sinning  no  more  I  mean  a 
fixed  resolve  not  only  to  avoid  all  mortal  sin,  but  also 
its  near  occasions. 

Q.   What  do  yon  mean  by  the  near  occasions  of  sin? 

A.  By  the  near  occasions  of  sin  I  mean  all  the  per- 
sons, places,  and  things  that  may  easily  lead  us  into 
sin. 

PRACTICE :  To  avoid  all  deliberate  sin  and  its  oc- 
casions, because  our  Lord  suffered  on  account  of 
our  sins. 


Reference  :  Lecture  25. 
Mark:   Chap.-  14,  v.  44-55, 


r  Points  1,  2  and  7.. 
Matt.:   Chap.  26,  v.  30-57,  ' 

Matt.:  Chap.  27,  v.     3-10,  Point  4. 


LECTURE  26 


AIM:     To  Show  the  Meekness  of  Jesus;  the  Evil 
of  Weakness. 

1.  Jesus  before  the  High  Priest. 

2.  Jesus  before  Pilate. 

3.  Peter  denies  Christ. 

4.  The  repentance  of  Peter ;  explain  contrition 

from  motive  of  love  of  Christ. 

5.  Jesus  is  scourged. 


THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST  45 

6.  Jesus  is  crowned  with  thorns. 

7.  Jesus   is   condemned   to   death;   weakness   of 

Pilate. 


QUESTIONS  IN  CATECHISM: 

Q.  Hozv  many  kinds  of  contrition  are  there? 

A.  There  are  two  kinds  of  contrition :  perfect  con- 
trition and  imperfect  contrition. 

Q.  What  is  perfect  contrition? 

A.  Perfect  contrition  is  that  which  fills  us  with  sor- 
row and  hatred  for  sin,  because  it  offends  God,  who  is 
infinitely  good  in  Himself  and  worthy  of  all  love. 

Q.   What  is  imperfect  contrition? 

A.  Imperfect  contrition  is  that  by  which  we  hate 
what  offends  God,  because  by  it  we  lose  heaven  and 
deserve  hell;  or  because  sin  is  so  hateful* in  itself. 

Q.  Is  imperfect  contrition  sufficient  for  a  worthy 
confession? 

A.  Imperfect  contrition  is  sufficient  for  a  worthy 
confession,  but  we  should  endeavor  to  have  perfect 
contrition. 

Q.  What  should  we  do  while  the  priest  is  giving  us 
absolution? 

A.  While  the  priest  is  giving  us  absolution  we  should 
from  our  heart  renew  the  Act  of  Contrition. 

Q.  What  is  contrition,  or  sorrozv  for  sin? 

A.  Contrition,  or  sorrow  for  sin,  is  a  hatred  of  sin 
and  a  true  grief  of  the  soul  for  having  offended  God, 
with  a  firm  purpose  of  sinning  no  more. 

TEACH:  An  Act  of  Contrition. 

O  my  God,  I  am  heartily  sorry  for  all  my  sins, 


46 


THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 


because  I  fear  the  loss  of  heaven  and  the  pains  of 
hell;  but  most  of  all,  because  I  have  offended 
Thee,  O  God,  Who  art  worthy  of  all  my  love.  I 
firmly  promise,  with  the  help  of  Thy  grace,  never 
more  to  offend  Thee. 

PRACTICE:  Make  a  fervent  act  of  contrition  be- 
fore entering  the  Confessional  and  whenever  we 
fall  into  sin. 


Reference:  Lecture  26 

Mark:  Chap.  14,  v.  53-72  " 

Matt.:  Chap.  26,  v.  57-75 

Luke :  Chap.  22,  v.  54-71 

John:  Chap.  18,  v.  13-28 

John :  Chap.  19,  v.     1-16 

Mark:  Chap.  15,  v.     1-20 

Matt.:  Chap.  27,  v.  11 -31 


'Points  1,  2,  3  and  4. 


Points  5,  6  and  7. 


AIM 


LECTURE  n 

To  Show  the  Evil  of  Sin  Demanding  the 
Sacrifice  of  Christ  on  the  Cross  as  Atone- 
ment to  the  Father ;  God's  Justice. 
Jesus  carries  His  cross  to  Calvary. 
Explain  the  "Way  of  the  Cross." 
Jesus  meets  His  mother. 
Jesus  and  Veronica. 
Jesus  and  the  Cyrenian. 
Jesus  falls  three  times  under  the  weight  of 
His  cross. 


THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST  47 

QUESTIONS  IN  CATECHISM: 

Q.  Is  God  just,  holy,  and  merciful? 

A.  God  is  all  just,  all  holy,  all  merciful,  as  He  is 
infinitely  perfect. 

Q.  Did  God  abandon  man  after  he  fell  into  sin? 

A.  God  did  not  abandon  man  after  he  fell  into  sin, 
but  promised  him  a  Redeemer,  who  was  to  satisfy  for 
man's  sin  and  reopen  to  him  the  gates  of  heaven. 

Q.   Who  is  the  Redeemer? 

A.  Our  Blessed  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ  is 
the  Redeemer  of  mankind. 

Q.   What  did  Jesus  Christ  suffer? 

A.  Jesus  Christ  suffered  a  bloody  sweat,  a  cruel 
scourging,  was  crowned  with  thorns,  and  was  crucified. 

Q.   Why  did  Christ  suffer  and  die? 

A.  Christ  suffered  and  died  for  our  sins. 

Q.  What  lessons  do  ma  learn  from  the  sufferings 
and  death  of  Christ? 

A.  From  the  sufferings  and  death  of  Christ  we  learn 
the  great  evil  of  sin,  the  hatred  God  bears  to  it,  and 
the  necessity  of  satisfying  for  it. 

Q.  Why  does  the  priest  give  us  a  penance  after 
Confession? 

A.  The  priest  gives  us  a  penance  after  Confession 
that  we  may  satisfy  God  for  the  temporal  punishment 
due  to  our  sins. 

Q.  Does  not  the  Sacrament  of  Penance  remit  all 
punishment  due  to  sin? 

A.  The  Sacrament  of  Penance  remits  the  eternal 
punishment  due  to  sin,  but  it  does  not  always  remit  the 
temporal  punishment  which  God  requires  as  satisfac- 
tion for  our  sins. 


48  THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

Q.  What  is  Heaven? 

A.  Heaven  is  the  state  of  everlasting  life  in  which 
we  see  God  face  to  face,  are  made  like  unto  Him  in 
glory,  and  enjoy  eternal  happiness. 

Q.   What  is  Purgatory? 

A.  Purgatory  is  the  state  in  which  those  suffer  for 
a  time  who  die  guilty  of  venial  sins,  or  without  having 
satisfied  for  the  punishment  due  to  their  sins. 

Q.   What  is  Hell? 

A.  Hell  is  a  state  to  which  the  wicked  are  con- 
demned, and  in  which  they  are  deprived  of  the  sight  of 
God  for  all  eternity. 

PRACTICE:  To  bear  patiently  our  trials  in  union 
with  our  Lord  and  thus  atone  for  our  sins.  To 
pray  for  the  souls  in  Purgatory 


Reference:  Lecture  27. 
Matt.:   Chap.  27,  v.  31-37. 
Mark:   Chap.  15,  v.  20-24. 
Luke:    Chap.  23,  v.  27-31. 
John:     Chap.  19,  v.  16-18. 


LECTURE  28 

AIM:     To   Show  How  the   Sacrifice   of   Christ   is 
Continued  in  the  Mass. 

1.  Jesus  is  crucified. 

2.  The  two  thieves. 

3.  The  repentance  of  the  good  thief. 

4.  "Now  there  stood  by  the  cross  of  Jesus,  Mary, 

His  mother." 


THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST  49 

QUESTIONS  IN  CATECHISM: 

Q.  What  is  the  Mass? 

A.  The  Mass  is  the  unbloody  sacrifice  of  the  body 
and  blood  of  Christ. 

Q.  What  is  a  sacrifice  ? 

A.  A  sacrifice  is  the  offering  of  an  object  by  a  priest 
to  God  alone,  and  the  consuming  of  it  to  acknowledge 
that  He  is  the  Creator  and  Lord  of  all  things. 

Q.  Is  the  Mass  the  same  sacrifice  as  that  of  the 
Cross? 

A.  The  Mass  is  the  same  sacrifice  as  that  of  the 
Cross. 

Q.  How  should  zve  assist  at  Mass? 

A.  We  should  assist  at  Mass  with  great  interior 
recollection  and  piety,  and  with  every  outward  mark 
of  respect  and  devotion. 

Q.  Is  it  a  mortal  sin  not  to  hear  Mass  on  a  Sunday 
or  a  holy  day  of  obligation? 

A.  It  is  a  mortal  sin  not  to  hear  Mass  on  a  Sunday 
or  a  holyday  of  obligation,  unless  we  are  excused  for 
a  serious  reason.  They  also  commit  a  mortal  sin  who, 
having  others  under  their  charge,  hinder  them  from 
hearing  Mass,  without  a  sufficient  reason. 

Q.  What  is  the  third  Commandment? 

A.  The  third  Commandment  is :  Remember  thou 
keep  holy  the  Sabbath  day. 

Q.  What  are  we  commanded  by  the  third  Com- 
mandment? 

A.  By  the  third  Commandment  we  are  commanded 
to  keep  holy  the  Lord's  day  and  the  holydays  of  obli- 
gation, on  which  we  are  to  give  our  time  to  the  service 
and  worship  of  God. 


50  THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

Q.  How  are  we  to  worship  God  on  Sundays  and 
holydays  of  obligation? 

A.  We  are  to  worship  God  on  Sundays  and  holy- 
days  of  obligation  by  hearing  Mass,  by  prayer,  and  by 
other  good  works. 

PRACTICE:     To  hear  Mass  faithfully  on  Sundays 
and  holydays  of  obligation. 


Reference:  Lecture  28. 
Mark :    Chap.   25,  v.  25-33,  Points  1  and  2. 
Matt.:   Chap.  27,  v.  38-50,  Point  1. 
Luke:    Chap.  23,  v.  31-47,  Points  1,  2  and  3. 
John:     Chap.    19,  v.  18-25,  Points  1,  2  and  4. 


LECTURE  29 


AIM:  To  Show  the  Love  of  Christ  for  Us  as 
Shown  in  the  Redemption.  The  Love  We 
Should  Give  in  Return. 

1.     The  Seven  Last  Words — explain  briefly. 

1.  "Father,   forgive   them,   for  they  know 

not  what  they  do." 

2.  "This    day   thou    shalt   be   with   Me    in 

paradise." 

3.  "Behold  thy  son ;  behold  thy  mother." 

4.  "My  God,  My  God,  why  hast  Thou  for- 

saken Me!" 

5.  "I  thirst." 


THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST  5 1 

6.  "It  is  consummated." 

7.  ''Father,  into  Thy  hands  I  commend  My 

spirit." 

2.  Jesus  dies  upon  the  cross. 

3.  Jesus  is  laid  in  the  arms  of  His  mother. 

4.  The  burial  of  Jesus.     Death  not  to  be  feared ; 

the  B.  V.  Mary,  our  mother,  will  be  stand- 
ing by. 
6.     Question  on,  and  teach,  Extreme  Unction. 

REVIEW  the  joyful  mysteries  of  the  rosary. 

TEACH:  The  Five  Sorrowful  Mysteries. 
First  Mystery.  The  Prayer  and  Bloody  Sweat  of 
our  blessed  Saviour  in  the  Garden. 
Second  Mystery.  The  Scourging  of  Jesus  at  the  Pillar. 
Third  Mystery.  The  Crowning  of  Jesus  with  Thorns. 
Fourth  Mystery.  Jesus  Carrying  His  Cross. 
Fifth  Mystery.      The  Crucifixion. 

QUESTIONS  IN  CATECHISM: 

Q.  How  did  Christ  die? 

A.  Christ  was  nailed  to  the  Cross  and  died  on  it 
between  two  thieves. 

Q.   Why  did  Christ  suffer  and  die? 

A.   Christ  suffered  and  died  for  our  sins. 

Q.  On  zvhat  day  did  Christ  die? 

A.  Christ  died  on  Good  Friday. 

Q.  Why  do  you  call  that  day  "good"  on  which 
Christ  died  so  sorrowful  a  death? 

A.  We  call  that  day  good  on  which  Christ  died  be- 
cause by  His  death  He  showed  His  great  love  for  man, 
and  purchased  for  him  every  blessing. 


52  THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

Q.  Where  did  Christ  die? 

A.  Christ  died  on  Mount  Calvary. 

Q.   Which  are  the  chief  effects  of  the  Redemption? 

A.  The  chief  effects  of  the  Redemption  are  two : 
The  satisfaction  of  God's  justice  by  Christ's  sufferings 
and  death,  and  the  gaining  of  grace  for  men. 

Q.  What  is  the  Sacrament  of  Extreme  Unction? 

A.  Extreme  Unction  is  the  Sacrament  which, 
through  the  anointing  and  prayer  of  the  priest,  gives 
health  and  strength  to  the  soul,  and  sometimes  to  the 
body,  when  we  are  in  danger  of  death  from  sickness. 

Q.  Which  are  the  effects  of  the  Sacrament  of  Ex- 
treme Unction? 

A.  The  effects  of  Extreme  Unction  are:  ist,  To 
comfort  us  in  the  pains  of  sickness ;  2d,  To  strengthen 
us  against  temptations ;  3d,  To  remit  venial  sins  and 
to  cleanse  our  soul  from  the  remains  of  sin ;  4th,  To 
restore  us  to  health,  when  God  sees  fit. 

Q.   What  is  the  fifth  Commandment? 

A.  The  fifth  Commandment  is :   Thou  shalt  not  kill. 

Q.   What  is  forbidden  by  the,  fifth  Commandment? 

A.  The  fifth  Commandment  forbids  all  wilful  mur- 
der, fighting,  anger,  hatred,  revenge,  and  bad  example. 

PRACTICE:  Devotion  to  the  Blessed  Virgin,  our 
mother.  Forgiveness  of  injuries  in  imitation  of 
Jesus  Christ. 


Reference:  Lecture  29. 
Matt.:  Chap.  27,  v.  50-66. 
Mark :   Chap.  25,  v.  33-47. 
Luke:    Chap.  23,  v.  47-56. 
John:     Chap.  18,  v.  25-42. 


THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST  53 


LECTURE  30 

AIM :     To  Teach  the  Virtue  of  Hope. 

1.  The  gloom  following  Good  Friday. 

2.  The  Jews  request  Pilate  for  soldiers  to  guard 

the  tomb. 

3.  Descent  of  Christ  into  Limbo  to  deliver  the 

souls  of  the  just. 

4.  Christ  had  foretold  His  resurrection. 

5.  The  resurrection  of  Christ  on  the  third  day, 

glorious  and  immortal. 

6.  Teach  and  question  on  the  Creed  as  a  review 

of  the  preceding  lessons. 

TEACH:  The  Apostles'  Creed. 

1.  I  believe  in  God,  the  Father  Almighty,  Crea- 
tor of  heaven  and  earth ; 

2.  And    in   Jesus    Christ,    His   only    Son,    our 
Lord; 

3.  Who  was  conceived  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  born 
of  the  Virgin  Mary ; 

4.  Suffered  under  Pontius  Pilate,  was  crucified, 
died,  and  was  buried ; 

5.  He  descended  into  hell;  the  third  day  He 
arose  again  from  the  dead; 

6.  He  ascended  into  heaven;  and  sitteth  at  the 
right  hand  of  God,  the  Father  Almighty ; 

7.  From  thence  He  shall  come  to  judge  the  liv- 
ing and  the  dead. 

8.  I  believe  in  the  Holy  Ghost ; 

9.  The  Holy  Catholic  Church,  the  Communion 
of  Saints; 


54  THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

10.  The  forgiveness  of  sins; 

11.  The  resurrection  of  the  body; 

12.  And  life  everlasting.     Amen. 

An  Act  Of  Hope. 

O  my  God !  relying  on  Thy  infinite  goodness  and 
promises,  I  hope  to  obtain  pardon  of  my  sins,  the  help 
of  Thy  grace,  and  life  everlasting,  through  the  merits 
of  Jesus  Christ,  my  Lord  and  Redeemer. 

An  Act  of  Hope. 

O  my  God,  I  hope  for  all  Thou  hast  promised,  be- 
cause Thou  canst  not  fail  to  keep  Thy  promise. 


QUESTIONS  IN  CATECHISM: 

Q.  Where  shall  we  find  the  chief  truths  which  the 
Church  teaches ? 

A.  We  shall  find  the  chief  truths  which  the  Church 
teaches  in  the  Apostles'  Creed. 

Q.   What  is  the  first  Commandment? 

A.  The  first  Commandment  is :  I  am  the  Lord  thy 
God :  thou  shalt  not  have  strange  gods  before  me. 

Q.  How  do  we  adore  God? 

A.  We  adore  God  by  faith,  hope,  and  love,  by  prayer 
and  sacrifice. 

Q.  Are  sins  against  faith,  hope,  and  charity  also  sins 
against  the  first  Commandment f 

A.  Sins  against  faith,  hope,  and  charity  are  also  sins 
against  the  first  Commandment. 

Q.   What  must  we  do  to  save  oar  souls ? 

A.  To  save  our  souls  we  must  worship  God  by  faith. 


THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST  55 

hope,  and  charity;  that  is,  we  must  believe  in  Him, 
hope  in  Him,  and  love  Him  with  all  our  heart. 

Q.  What  is  Hope? 

A.  Hope  is  a  Divine  virtue  by  which  we  firmly  trust 
that  God  will  give  us  eternal  life  and  the  means  to 
obtain  it. 

Q.  Whither  did  Christ's  soul  go  after  His  death? 

A.  After  Christ's  death  His  soul  descended  into  hell. 

Q.  Did  Christ's  soul  descend  into  the  hell  of  the 
damned? 

A.  The  hell  into  which  Christ's  soul  descended  was 
not  the  hell  of  the  damned,  but  a  place  or  state  of  rest 
called  Limbo,  where  the  souls  of  the  just  were  waiting 
for  Him. 

Q.  Why  did  Christ  descend  into  Limbo? 

A.  Christ  descended  into  Limbo  to  preach  to  the 
souls  who  were  in  prison — that  is,  to  announce  to  them 
the  joyful  tidings  of  their  redemption. 

PRACTICE:     Daily  recitation  of  the  Creed  and  of 
the  Acts  of  Faith,  Hope,  and  Charity. 


Reference:  Lecture  30. 
Matt. :  Chap.  2jy  v.  62-66,  Point  2. 
Matt:  Chap.  28,  v.    1-11,  Point  5. 


56  THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 


LECTURE  31 

AIM :  Teach  the  Resurrection  of  the  Body.  Show 
the  Honor  We  Should  Give  the  Body  as 
the  Temple  of  the  Holy  Ghost  and  as  Des- 
tined to  Rise  Again  and  Share  Eternity 
With  Us. 

1.  The  story  of  the  resurrection  continued. 

2.  The  visit  of  the  three  Marys  to  the  tomb  of 

Christ. 

3.  Peter  and  John  at  the  tomb. 

4.  The  Angel  reminds  them  of  the  promise  of 

Christ  to  rise  again. 

5.  Jesus  appears  to  Mary  Magdalen. 

6.  Jesus  sends  Mary  to  tell  His  disciples  that  He 

has  risen  as  He  promised. 

7.  Jesus  appears  to  His  disciples  on  the  shore  of 

the  sea  of  Galilee. 

QUESTIONS  IN  CATECHISM: 

Q.  On  zvhat  day  did  Christ  rise  from  the  dead? 

A.  Christ  rose  from  the  dead,  glorious  and  immor- 
tal, on  Easter  Sunday,  the  third  day  after  His  death. 

Q.  Will  our  bodies  share  in  the  reward  or  punish- 
ment of  our  souls? 

A.  Our  bodies  will  share  in  the  reward  or  punish- 
ment of  our  souls,  because  through  the  resurrection 
they  will  again  be  united  to  them. 

Q.  In  what  state  will  the  bodies  of  the  just  rise? 

A.  The  bodies  of  the  just  will  rise  glorious  and  im- 
mortal. 


THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST  57 

Q.  Will  the  bodies  of  the  damned  also  rise? 

A.  The  bodies  of  the  damned  will  also  rise,  but  they 
will  be  condemned  to  eternal  punishment. 

Q.  When  will  Christ  judge  us? 

A.  Christ  will  judge  us  immediately  after  our  death, 
and  on  the  last  day. 

Q.  What  is  the  judgment  called  which  we  have  to 
undergo  immediately  after  death? 

A.  The  judgment  we  have  to  undergo  immediately 
after  death  is  called  the  Particular  Judgment. 

Q.  What  is  the  judgment  called  which  all  men  have 
to  undergo  on  the  last  day? 

A.  The  judgment  which  all  men  have  to  undergo  on 
the  last  day  is  called  the  General  Judgment. 

Q.  What  are  the  rewards  or  punishments  appointed 
for  men's  souls  after  the  Particular  Judgment? 

A.  The  rewards  or  punishments  appointed  for  men's 
souls  after  the  Particular  Judgment  are  Heaven,  Pur- 
gatory, and  Hell. 

Q.  What  is  the  sixth  Commandment? 

A.  The  sixth  Commandment  is :  Thou  shalt  not  com- 
mit adultery. 

Q.  What  are  we  commanded  by  the  sixth  Com- 
mandment? 

A.  We  are  commanded  by  the  sixth  Commandment 
to  be  pure  in  thought  and  modest  in  all  our  looks, 
words  and  actions. 

Q.   What  is  forbidden  by  the  sixth  Commandment? 

A.  The  sixth  Commandment  forbids  all  unchaste 
freedom  with  another's  wife  or  husband;  also  all  im- 
modesty with  ourselves  or  others  in  looks,  dress,  words, 
or  actions. 

Q.   What  is  the  ninth  Commandment? 


58  THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

A.  The  ninth  Commandment  is:  Thou  shalt  not 
covet  thy  neighbor's  wife. 

Q.  What  are  we  commanded  by  the  ninth  Com- 
mandment? 

A.  We  are  commanded  by- the  ninth  Commandment 
to  keep  ourselves  pure  in  thought  and  desire. 

PRACTICE:     Modesty. 


Reference:  Lecture  31. 

Luke:    Chap.  24,  v.  1-13,  Points  1  and  2. 

Matt:  Chap.  28,  v.  1-11,  1  _, ;  .  4  .  * 

,,    ,      ~.  J  \  Points  1,  2,  5  and  6. 

Mark:   Chap.   16,  v.  1-13,  J  J 

John:     Chap.  20,  v.  1-19,  Points  1,  3,  5  and  6. 

John:     Chap.  21,  v.  1-14,  Point  7. 


LECTURE  32 

AIM :  To  Teach  the  Virtue  of  Faith. 

1.  Christ  appears  repeatedly  to  His  disciples. 

2.  The  incredulity  of  Thomas. 

3.  Christ  appears  on  the  road  to  Emmaus. 

4.  Christ  remains  40  days  with  His  disciples  to 

explain  to  them  His  life  and  establish  the 
Church. 

5.  Christ  establishes  Peter  head  of  the  Church 

and  gives  His  disciples  power  to  administer 
the  Sacraments. 

6.  Question  and  teach  Holy  Orders. 

7.  Teach  and  question  on  THE  CHURCH. 


THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST  59 

TEACH:  An  Act  of  Faith. 

O  my  God,  I  firmly  believe  all  that  the  Holy 
Catholic  Church  believes  and  teaches,  because 
Thou  hast  revealed  it,  Who  canst  neither  deceive, 
nor  be  deceived. 

An  Act  of  Faith. 
O  my  God,  I  believe  all  Thou  hast  said,  because 
Thou  canst  neither  deceive,  nor  be  deceived. 

QUESTIONS  IN  CATECHISM: 

Q.  Hoiu  shall  we  know  the  things  which  we  are  to 
believe? 

A.  We  shall  know  the  things  which  we  are  to  believe 
from  the  Catholic  Church,  through  which  God  speaks 
to  us. 

Q.  Which  are  the  means  instituted  by  our  Lord  to 
enable  men  at  all  times  to  share  in  the  fruits  of  the 
Redemption? 

A.  The  means  instituted  by  our  Lord  to  enable  men 
at  all  times  to  share  in  the  fruits  of  His  Redemption 
are  the  Church  and  the  Sacraments. 

Q.   What  is  the  Church? 

A.  The  Church  is  the  congregation  of  all  those  who 
profess  the  faith  of  Christ,  partake  of  the  same  Sacra- 
ments, and  are  governed  by  their  lawful  pastors  under 
one  visible  Head. 

Q.  Has  the  Church  any  marks  by  which  it  may  be 
known? 

A.  The  Church  has  four  marks  by  which  it  may  be 
known :  it  is  One ;  it  is  Holy ;  it  is  Catholic ;  it  is 
Apostolic. 

Q.  In  which  Church  are  these  marks  found? 


60  THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

A.  These  marks  are  found  in  the  Holy  Roman 
Catholic  Church  alone. 

Q.  Which  are  the  chief  commandments  of  the 
Church? 

A.  The  chief  Commandments  of  the  Church  are  six : 

1.  To  hear  Mass  on  Sundays  and  holydays  of  obli- 
gation. 

2.  To  fast  and  abstain  on  the  days  appointed. 

3.  To  confess  at  least  once  a  year. 

4.  To  receive  the  Holy  Eucharist  during  the  Easter 
-time. 

5.  To  contribute  to  the  support  of  our  pastors. 

6.  Not  to  marry  persons  who  are  not  Catholics,  or 
who  are  related  to  us  within  the  fourth  degree  of  kin- 
dred, nor  privately  without  witnesses,  nor  to  solemnize 
marriage  at  forbidden  times. 

Q.  What  is  the  Sacrament  of  Holy  Orders? 

A.  Holy  Orders  is  a  Sacrament  by  which  bishops, 
priests,  and  other  ministers  of  the  Church  are  ordained 
and  receive  the  power  and  grace  to  perform  their  sa- 
cred duties. 

Q.  Who  can  confer  the  Sacrament  of  Holy  Orders? 

A.  Bishops  can  confer  the  Sacrament  of  Holy  Or- 
ders. 

Q.  What  is  Faith? 

A.  Faith  is  a  Divine  virtue  by  which  we  firmly  be- 
lieve the  truths  which  God  has  revealed. 

PRACTICE :     Faithful  obedience  to  the  Church. 


Reference:  Lecture  32. 
Luke:    Chap.  24,  v.  13-50,  Points  1,  2,  3  and  4, 
John:     Chap.  20,  v.  19-31,  Points  1,  2  and  5. 


THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST  6l 

Mark:   Chap.  16,  v.  11-18,  Points  1,  3  and  5. 
Matt.:   Chap.  28,  v.  11-20,  Points  1  and  5. 
John:     Chap.  21,  v.  14-25,  Point  5. 


LECTURE  33 


AIM :     To  Teach  the  Virtue  of  Charity.     To  Show 

that  Christ's  Life  was  Our  Example  which 

We  Should  Imitate  for  Love  of  Christ. 

The  Ascension. 

The  disciples  gathered  in  Jerusalem. 

The  descent  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 

Question  and  teach  Confirmation. 

Christ's  mission  on  earth  continued  by  His 
Church. 
6.     Christ's  life  on  earth  continued  by  His  fol- 
lowers. 

REVIEW  the  joyful  and  sorrowful  mysteries  of  the 
Rosary. 

TEACH:     Five  Glorious  Mysteries. 

First  Mystery.       The  Resurrection. 

Second  Mystery.   The  Ascension. 

Third  Mystery.     The  Descent  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 

Fourth  Mystery.  The  Assumption. 

Fifth  Mystery.      The  Crowning  of  the  Blessed  Virgin. 

An  Act  of  Love. 

O  my  God !  I  love  Thee  above  all  things,  with  my 
whole  heart  and  soul,  because  Thou  art  all-good  and 
worthy  of  all  love.     I  love  my  neighbor  as  myself  for 


62  THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

the  love  of  Thee.     I  forgive  all  who  have  injured  me, 
and  ask  pardon  of  all  whom  I  have  injured. 

Act  of  LoVe. 

My  God,  because  Thou  aft  so  good,  I  love  Thee 
with  all  my  heart ;  and  for  Thy  sake,  I  love  my  neigh- 
bor as  myself. 

QUESTIONS  IN  CATECHISM: 

Q.  Why  did  Christ  live  so  long  on  earth? 

A.  Christ  lived  so  long  on  earth  to  show  us  the  way 
to  heaven  by  His  teachings  and  example. 

Q.  How  long  did  Christ  stay  on  earth  after  His 
resurrection? 

A.  Christ  stayed  on  earth  forty  days  after  His  res- 
urrection to  show  that  He  was  truly  risen  from  the 
dead,  and  to  instruct  His  apostles. 

Q.  After  Christ  had  remained  forty  days  on  earth 
whither  did  He  go? 

A.  After  forty  days  Christ  ascended  into  heaven, 
and  the  day  on  which  He  ascended  into  heaven  is  called 
Ascension  day. 

Q.  Where  is  Christ  in  heaven? 

A.  In  heaven  Christ  sits  at  the  right  hand  of  God 
the  Father  Almighty. 

Q.  What  do  you  mean  by  saying  that  Christ  sits  at 
the  right  hand  of  God? 

A.  When  I  say  that  Christ  sits  at  the  right  hand  of 
God  I  mean  that  Christ  as  God  is  equal  to  His  Father 
in  all  things,  and  that  as  man  he  is  in  the  highest  place 
in  heaven  next  to  God. 

Q.  Who  is  the  Holy  Ghost? 


THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST  63 

A.  The  Holy  Ghost  is  the  third  Person  of  the 
Blessed  Trinity. 

Q.  On  what  day  did  the  Holy  Ghost  come  down 
upon  the  Apostles? 

A.  The  Holy  Ghost  came  down  upon  the  Apostles 
ten  days  after  the  Ascension  of  our  Lord ;  and  the  day 
on  which  He  came  down  upon  the  Apostles  is  called 
Whitsunday,  or  Pentecost. 

Q.  Who  sent  the  Holy  Ghost  upon  the  Apostles? 

A.  Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  sent  the  Holy  Ghost  upon 
the  Apostles. 

Q.  Why  did  Christ  send  the  Holy  Ghost? 

A.  Christ  sent  the  Holy  Ghost  to  sanctify  His 
Church,  to  enlighten  and  strengthen  the  Apostles,  and 
to  enable  them  to  preach  the  Gospel. 

Q.  Will  the  Holy  Ghost  abide  with  the  Church  for 
ever? 

A.  The  Holy  Ghost  will  abide  with  the  Church  for 
ever,  and  guide  it  in  the  way  of  holiness  and  truth. 

Q.  What  is  Confirmation? 

A.  Confirmation  is  a  Sacrament  through  which  we 
receive  the  Holy  Ghost  to  make  us  strong  and  perfect 
Christians  and  soldiers  of  Jesus  Christ. 

Q.  Who  administers  Confirmation? 

A.  The  bishop  is  the  ordinary  minister  of  Confirma- 
tion. 

Q.   What  is  Charity? 

A.  Charity  is  a  Divine  virtue  by  which  we  love  God 
above  all  things  for  His  own  sake,  and  our  neighbor 
as  ourselves  for  the  love  of  God. 

PRACTICE:  To  show  our  love  of  Jesus  by  imitat- 
ing in  our  daily  life  the  life  of  Christ  Jesus,  our 
Lord. 


64  THE  LIFE  OF  CHRIST 

Reference:  Lecture  33. 
Luke:    Chap.  24,  v.  50-53,  ) 
Mark:  Chap.  16,  v.  18-20,  j  ^°mt  l' 
Acts:     Chap.     1,  v.     1-14,  Point  2. 
Acts:     Chap.  11,  v.     1-  5;  Point  3. 


INDEX 


lectures 

Church 14,  20,  21,  32 

Commandments 21 

First 30 

Second  6 

Third 28 

Fourth 8 

Fifth 29 

Sixth 31 

Seventh 18 

Eighth 17 

"               Ninth 31 

Tenth 21 

Doctrines  : 

Angels 3,  10 

Atonement 27 

Church 20,  21,  30,  32,  33 

Creation 1 

Divinity  of   Christ 9 

God 1,  7 

Grace 13 

Heaven 27,  31 

Hell 27,  31 

Holy  Ghost 33 

Immaculate  Conception 2 

Incarnation 3,  5 

Judgment 31 

Original  Sin 1,  10 

Prayer 15 

Purgatory 27,  31 

Supremacy  and  infallibility  of  the  Pope     ....  20 

Redemption 2,  27,  29 

Resurrection 5,  20,  30,  31,  33 

Sacraments   .      .      .        2,  11,  12,  16,  19,  22,  23,  29,  32,  33 

Sin 1,  2,  10,  25,  26,  27 

Transubstantiation 23,  24 

Trinity 9,  33 

Unity  of  God 1,  9 

65 


66  INDEX 

Feasts  and  Days  of  Devotion  :  lectures 

Annunciation 4 

Ascension 33 

Circumcision 6 

Easter  Sunday 30 

Epiphany 6 

Good   Friday • 29 

Holy  Thursday       .      . .      .23 

Immaculate  Conception 2 

Nativity  of  Christ 5 

Palm  Sunday 22 

Pentecost 33 

Visitation      . 4 

Miracles  : 

Christ  changes  water  into  wine 11 

"       gives  sight  to  the  blind 18 

"       heals  the  sick 18 

"       heals  son  of  the  Ruler 13 

"       heals   the   paralytic 18 

"       heals  the  servant  of  the  Centurion  ....  18 

"       heals  sick  at  the  Pool  of  Bethesda  ....  14 

"       raises  the  daughter  of  Jairus 18 

"       raises  Lazarus 20 

"       stills  the  .tempest 18 

"       walks  on  the  water 16 

The  draught  of  fishes 13 

The  multiplication  of  the  loaves  and  fishes  ....  16 

The  son  of  the  Widow  of  Nairn 18 

Practices  of  Devotion: 

Daily  examination  of  conscience 21 

Devotion  to  Blessed  Virgin 2 

Devotion  to  Guardian  Angel 3 

Faithfulness  to  duty  . 13 

Faithfulness  to  prayer 10,  15,  28 

Frequent  communion 16,  22 

Frequent  confession 12 

Pray  for  the  Pope 20 

Pray  for  the  Souls  in  Purgatory 31 

Visit  the  Blessed  Sacrament 23 

Parables  : 

Good  Samaritan 17 

Lost  Groat 17 

Lost  sheep 17 

Prodigal   Son 17 

Rich  Young  Man 21 


INDEX  67 

LECTURES 

Sower 17 

Wedding  Feast 17 

Widow's  Mite 19 

Prayers  : 3,  4,  10 

Act  of  Faith 32 

"    of  Hope 30 

"    of  Love 33 

"    of  Contrition 26 

"Angel  of  God,  my  guardian  dear" 3 

Angelus 4 

Creed 30 

"Jesus,  Mary  and  Joseph,"  etc 6 

Lord's  prayer 15 

Mass 23,  28 

Magnificat 4 

Mysteries  of  the  Rosary 8,  29,  33 

"  O  Mary  conceived  without  sin,"  etc ro 

Prayer  to  St.  Joseph 7 

Prayer  of  Newman 17 

Sign  of  the  Cross 9 

Sacraments: 32 

Baptism 2 

Confirmation 33 

Eucharist 16,  22,  24 

Extreme  Unction 29 

Holy  Orders 32 

Matrimony 11 

Penance 12,  19,  26,  27 

Virtues  : 

Beatitudes 15 

Charity 17,  33 

Faith 32 

Honesty 21 

Hope 30 

Kindness 4,  17-18 

Love   of   Christ 19 

Obedience I,  7,  8,  32 

Patience 27 

Purity 2,  4,  24,  31 

Reverence 6,  9,  11,  14 

Truth 17,  19 


BS2420.M568 

The  life  of  Christ- 


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